Wen Chai

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu.

The biological degradation of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenol)propane (1; bisphenol A, BPA), a representative endocrine disruptor, was studied with plant-cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu. An initial BPA concentration of 425 μM in an aqueous solution was degraded by C. chamlagu at 25°C for 2 days in the dark, and two intermediates were then completely dissipated after 10 days.

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by fungi.

The biologic degradation of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A [BPA]; 1) was studied with 26 fungi. An initial BPA concentration of 40 ppm in an aqueous solution was degraded in the dark for 14 d. Among the 26 strains tested, 11 degraded BPA at 50% or more. Furthermore, four strains (F. sporotrichioides NFRI-1012, F. moniliforme 2–2, A. terreus MT-13, and E. nidulans MT-98) were more effective for degradation of BPA.

Biotransformation of (+)- and (-)-camphorquinones by plant cultured cells.

Biotransformation of (+)- and (-)-camphorquinones with suspension plant cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum and Catharanthus roseus was investigated. It was found that the plant cultured cells of N. tabacum and C. roseus reduce stereoselectively the carbonyl group of (+)- and (-)-camphorquinones to the corresponding alpha-keto alcohols.

Oxidative cleavage of the C-C bond of 3,6-dialkylcyclohexane-1,2-diones by cell suspension cultures of Marchantia polymorpha

Biotransformation of 3,6-dialkylcyclohexane-1,2-diones by cell suspension cultures of Marchantia polymorpha involves regioselective oxidative cleavage of the C-C bond to give the corresponding oxocarboxylic acids shortened by one carbon unit. In the case of cyclohexane-1,2-dione, adipic acid was obtained.

Esterification of alkene with cerium(IV) sulfate in carboxylic acid

Reaction of alkenes [cyclohexene (1), cycloheptene (2), cyclooctene (3), 1-heptene (4), 1-octene (5), styrene (6), 1,7-octadiene (7), indene (8), and 1,2-dihydronaphthalene (9)] with cerium(IV) sulfate (CS) in carboxylic acids [formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid] readily yielded the corresponding carboxylic esters. This addition reaction follows the Markovnikov rule. This reaction provides a new simple method for preparing carboxylic esters from alkenes. It was also found that this method is useful for formylation.