Novel compound, (2Z,6E)-1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-8-oic acid produced from biotransformation of nerol by Spodoptera litura larvae.

Biotransformation of nerol by larvae of the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura) was investigated. The resulting major metabolites were (2Z,6E)-1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-8-oic acid and 8-hydroxynerol, and the minor metabolites were 9-hydroxynerol and (2Z,6E)-1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-8-al. (2Z,6E)-1-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-8-oic acid is a novel compound. The results indicate that biotransformation of nerol by S. litura larvae involved 2 pathways; the main pathway involved oxidation at the methyl group of the geminal dimethyl at C-8 position followed by carboxylation, and the minor pathway involved oxidation at the methyl group of the geminal dimethyl at C-9 position.