Transformation of α-pinene using Picea abies suspension culture

alpha-Pinene, both as the pure enantiomers and as the racemate, was transformed mainly to trans-verbenol by treatment with a Picea abies suspension cell culture. These reactions were followed by a slow transformation of the verbenol to verbenone, which was not transformed further. trans-Pinocarveol, myrtenol, cis-verbenol, and alpha-terpineol were byproducts of intermediate abundance. When subjected to the action of the suspension culture, cis-verbenol was not only transformed to verbenone but also isomerized to trans-verbenol. The transformation of alpha-pinene was fast, and the products were detected within one minute. The absolute configuration of the major products corresponded to that of the starting alpha-pinene enantiomer.