Biotransformation of (S)-cis-verbenol with Nocardia corallina B-276

The biotransformation of (S)-cis-verbenol with Nocardia corallina was investigated using two methods: Suspension of cells in a phosphate buffer (pH 7) with various substrate:cells ratios; and bioreactor of 3-L with cells in the culture media. Both gave (IS)-(-)-verbenone with excellent yields ranging from > 99 to 98%, at scale of 0.7 and 7 mmol respectively.