Biotechnology Letters, Vol.23, No.2, 119-124, 2001
Diastereoselective hydroxylation and reduction of derivatised tetrahydrofurans by Beauveria bassiana
The filamentous fungus, Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159, catalyses the regio- and diastereoselective biohydroxylation of trans-2-methyl-5-benzyloxymethyl-tetrahydrofuran to the cis-3-hydroxy derivative. When incubated with cis-2-methyl-3-keto-5-benzyloxymethyltetrahydrofuran, the same fungus performs a reduction to give the cis- and trans-alcohols in a 4:1 ratio.