Microbiological conversions of steroids - by adding to a culture contg. hydrocarbons as carbon and energy source

摘要

Microbiological conversion or steroids comprises adding the appropriate steroid starting material (I) to an appropriate culture medium which contains hydrocarbons as C-and energy-source. Specified (I) are cholesterol (for conversion to delta 4-cholesten-3-one and delta 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (II) and progesterone (for conversion to delta 4-androstene-3,17-dione, (II) and traces of other product). By using hydrocarbons, prods. which were not obtd. at all, or only in low yields, are obtained, by adjusting pH and concn. of certain ions, the reaction can be controlled allowing highly selective oxidns.