Conversion of (+)-Carvone by Pseudomonas ovalis, Strain 6-1 (1)

Abstract

The conversion of (+)-carvone by Pseudomonas ovalis, strain 6-1, was investigated. (+)-Carvone was found to be reduced to (-)-isodihydrocarvone, (-)-isodihydrocarveol, (-)-neoisodihydrocarveol, (-)-dihydrocarvone, (-)-neodihydrocarveol, and (+)-dihydrocarveol, of which the former three were the major products. From these results, it was postulated that Pseudomonas ovalis, strain 6-1, has different pathways for (+)-carvone and (-)-carvone, respectively; (+)-carvone is converted via (-)-isodihydrocarvone to (-)-isodihydrocarveol and (-)-neoisodihydrocarveol, whereas (-)-carvone is converted via (+)-dihydrocarvone to (-)-dihydrocarveol. Stereochemical structures of four isomers of dihydrocarveols were also discussed on the basis of PMR results.