NEW SOPHOROSELIPIDS, METHOD FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE

摘要

The invention relates to sophoroselipids of formula (I) wherein R<4> represents H, -CH2CH3, -CH2CH2CH3, n is an integer number from 2 to 27, R<1> and R<2> represent, independently from each other, H or a group of formula (II), and R<3> represents H or -OH. The invention also relates to a method for producing sophoroselipids of formula (I) wherein R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and n have the aforementioned meanings and R<4> represents -CH3, -CH2CH3 or -CH2CH2CH3. According to this method, a yeast capable of secreting a sophoroselipid in the form of a lactone in the culture excess, is fermented in a culture medium containing a glycerin, a succinate, a mono-, di- and/or tri-saccharide and a lipid precursor, said sophoroselipid being then isolated from the culture solution. The inventive method is characterised in that the lipid precursor contains one or more 3-alkanols, 4-alkanols or an alkanone with a chain length from 6 to 30 carbon atoms or mixtures of said alkanols/alkanone. Furthermore, according to a variant of the aforementioned method for producing sophoroselipids of formula (I), wherein R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and n have the meanings aforementioned and R<4> represents -CH3, -CH2CH3 or -CH2CH2CH3, the culture medium is maintained during fermentation under a reduced oxygen concentration. The new sophoroselipids may be used, e.g., as surfactants, cosmetics, disinfecting agents or pharmaceutical products.