The Hydroxylation of β-Terpineol and Its Acetate with the Cultured Cells of Nicotiana tabacum

Abstract
The biotransformation of c-4-p-menth-8(9)-en-r-l-ol (β-terpineol) and its acetate with the cultured suspension cells of Nicotiana tabacum were tested. It was found that the cultured cells have the ability to hydroxylate not only the allylic positions of the C–C double bond of these substrates, but also their terminal carbon-carbon double bond. The hydroxylation at the 4-position of their allylic positions was stereospecific, affording a trans-1,4-diol.