Enzymatic allylic oxidations with a lyophilisate of the edible fungus Pleurotus sapidus

Abstract

Allylic oxidations belong to the most attractive synthetic transformations because they convert readily available and cheap starting materials into value-added products. In this study, we describe oxidative conversions of terpenoids and a number of related cycloalkenes with a lyophilisate of the edible fungus Pleurotus sapidus. The biocatalytic protocol is simple and the biocatalyst is readily available. The conversions of various cycloalkenes proceed cleanly in most cases to the corresponding enones. The substrate scope is remarkable and includes a number of mono- and sequiterpenes, functionalized terpenoids as well as simple cyclohexenes and benzylic substrates. Enzymatic allylic oxidations by Pleurotus sapidus are thus an excellent non-toxic alternative to metal-mediated oxidation procedures in academic labs and for industrial application in food technology, cosmetics or pharmaceutical research.