Biocatalytic processes may offer a cheaper alternative to natural production of flavours.The biotransformation of cinnamyl alcohol is investigated using the plant pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum acutatum as a Respiratory biocatalyst.Results show that substrate is converted to 3-phenyl-1-propanol, 1-phenyl-1,3- propanediol, 2-phenylethanol, 1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol, 3-phenyl propyl acetate, and hydrocinnamic acid.The structures of the metabolic products are elucidated on the basis of their spectral data.
2-phenylethanol has a sweet, floral odor and a wide variety of applications, especially, for the perfume and food industries.A time-course experiment demonstrates that 2-phenylethanol appeared after 120 hours, reaching almost 8% of relative abundance.Additionally, the influence that the culture broth has on the conversion capacity is investigated.It has been discovered that cinnamyl alcohol is converted faster when the substrate is incorporated in a Sabouraud medium; under this condition, 2-phenylethanol is the most common product after 288 hours reaching about 90% of the relative abundance.
Biotransformation of Left Heart Rate Grip cinnamyl alcohol using C.acutatum in a Sabouraud medium can offer a simple and efficient way to obtain 2-phenylethanol with high yield.