MICROBIAL OXIDATION OF AMINOIMIDAZOLES TO NITROIMIDAZOLES

Abstract

The structural requirements for the microbial transformation of 2-aminoimidazoles to 2-nitroimidazoles by Streptomyces strain LE/3342 have been investigated. Substrates carrying an alkyl group in position 4 (or 5) were oxidized, the efficiency decreasing with the increase of the length of the chain. Lower yields in the oxidation were observed with the 4, 5-dimethyl derivative. When a methyl group in position 1 or a phenyl group in position 4 (or 5) was present no transformation product could be detected. The influence of the substrate concentration and the time course of the transformation are reported and discussed.