Microbial transformation of benzosampangine.

Microbial transformation studies of the synthetic antifungal alkaloid benzosampangine (1) have revealed that 1 is metabolized by a number of microorganisms. Using a standard two-stage fermentation technique Absidia glauca (ATCC 22752), Cunninghamella blakesleeana (ATCC 8688a), Cunninghamella species (NRRL 5695), Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae (CSIH #C-5), and Rhizopogon species (ATCC 36060) each produced a β-glucopyranose conjugate of benzosampangine (2). The identity of 2 was established on the basis of spectroscopic data.