Hydroxylation of compactin to pravatatin by micromonospora

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new microbial process for the preparation of compound of formula (I) from a compound of general formula (II) wherein R stands for an alkali metal or ammonium ion, by the submerged culture of a strain which is able to 6β-hydroxylate the compound of formula (II) in aerobic fermentation and by the separation and purification of the product of formula (I) formed in the course of the biocoversion. The latter comprises the cultivation of a Micromonospora strain which is able to 6β-hydroxylate a compound of general formula (II)—wherein R is as defined above—at 25-32° C. on a nutrient medium containing available carbon—and nitrogen sources and mineral salts, thereafter feeding the substrate to be transformed into the developing culture, then hydroxilating the substrate until finishing of the bioconversion, then separating the compound of formula (I) from the culture broth and, if desired, purifying the same.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . A microbial process for the preparation of the compound of formula (I)  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         from a compound of the general formula (II)  
         
           
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
         
         wherein R stands for an alkali metal or ammonium ion, by the submerged culturing of a suitable bacterial strain which is able to 6β-hydroxylate a compound of formula (II) under aerobic conditions and by the separation and purification of the compound of formula (I) formed in the course of the bioconversion comprising the steps of  
         a) cultivating a suitable bacterial strain which is able to 6β-hydroxylate a compound of formula (II)—wherein R is as defined above to a compound of the formula (I)—at 25-32° C. on a nutrient medium containing available carbon and nitrogen sources and mineral salts, thereafter  
         b) feeding the substrate to be transformed into a developing culture, then  
         c) hydroxylating the substrate until finishing of the bioconversion, then  
         d) separating the compound of formula (I) from the culture broth and, if desired, purifying the same.  
       
     
     
         9 . A process as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the bacterial strain has the 6β-hydroxylate characteristics of  Micrononospora.    
     
     
         10 . A process as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the bacterial strain has the ability to 6β-hydroxylate the compound of formula (II) into Pravastatin.