Microbiological oxidation of long-chain aliphatic compounds. Part III. 1-Halogenoalkanes, 1-cyanohexadecane, and 1-alkoxyalkanes

Abstract

In a medium containing glucose, the yeast Torulopsis gropengiesseri effects the following transformations: (a) long-chain 1-halogenoalkanes to αω-alkanedioic acids; (b) 1-cyanohexadecane to the cyanohydrin derivative of 16-oxohexadecanoic acid; (c) long-chain 1-methoxyalkanes and 1-ethoxyalkanes to ω-hydroxyalkanoic acids; (d) long-chain 1-propoxyalkanes to ω- and ω-1-hydroxyalkoxyalkanoic acids. The transformation products separate from the culture medium as glycolipids. Metabolic pathways which account for these transformations are proposed.