Biotransformation of aromatic heterocyclic compounds by Caragana chamlagu and Wasabia japonica

Abstract The biotransformation of several indoles using suspension plant cultured-cells of Caragana chamlagu gave the corresponding ketoamides by oxidative cleavage. In the case of biotransformation of 2,3-dimethylindole ( 1 ) by C. chamlagu , o -acetylaminoacetophenone ( 1b , 76%) as the major product and 2,3-epoxy-2,3-dimethylindoline ( 1a , 11%) were obtained after 6 days’ incubation. Furthermore, the biotransformation of 1 in the presence of H 2 O 2 gave the compounds 1b (83%) and 1a (6%) in short time (1 h). On the other hand, the biotransformation of 2,3-dimethylindole ( 1 ) for Wasabia japonica (Japanese horseradish)–H 2 O 2 system gave o -acetylaminoacetophenone ( 1b ) in good yield. Moreover, we discuss about biotransformation for 2,3-dimethylbenzofuran ( 11 ), benzofuran ( 12 ), benzoxazole, ( 13 ) and 2-methylbenzoxazole ( 14 ).