Practical Preparation of K-252a from a Fermentation Solution

Abstract

  We developed a practical preparation procedure for K-252a by methylating K-252b on an industrial scale. The water-insoluble K-252a, which was present in the cell mass, was converted to the water-soluble K-252b Na salt in an alkaline solution. The obtained K-252b was methylated with dimethylsulfate in the presence of potassium carbonate in dimethylacetamide. We have already used this method to manufacture 90 kg of K-252b from the fermentation broth, and regenerated 65 kg of K-252a from K-252b.