Microbial bioreaction process
A cis- or trans-stilbenoid of the general formula (1): in which each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 is hydrogen or hydroxy, or a glycosylated or oligomeric form thereof, is produced by cultivating a micro-organism producing said stilbenoid, in a multi-phase system comprising at least an aqueous first phase containing said micro-organism and a second phase immiscible with said aqueous phase in which (e.g. as which) said stilbenoid accumulates. The second phase may be said stilbenoid or a free or encapsulated solvent compatible with the growth of the micro-organism, for instance an ester.
1. A method for the production of a cis- or trans-stilbenoid of the general formula 1:
in which each or R 1 R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 independently is hydrogen or hydroxyl, or a glycosylated or oligomeric form thereof,
comprising cultivating a micro-organism producing said stilbenoid,
wherein said cultivation is performed in a multi-phase system comprising an aqueous first phase containing said micro-organism and a second phase immiscible with said aqueous phase in which said stilbenoid accumulates,
wherein said second phase comprises an ester, and said ester is of the general formula R 6 —COO—R 7 , and R 6 is H or an aliphatic straight or branched chain hydrocarbon moiety of from 1-6 carbon atoms and R 7 is an aliphatic straight or branched chain hydrocarbon moiety of from 2-16 carbon atoms, or a heteroatom containing hydrocarbon moiety of from 2to 16 carbon atoms or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety of from 5 to 16 carbon atoms.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 7 has from 3 to 9 carbon atoms.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 6 has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said ester is an octyl acetate.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second phase is a liquid comprising an alkane.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said alkane is a C 6 to C 16 straight or branched chain alkane.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said alkane is n-dodecane.