Chemomicrobial synthesis of (R)- and (S)-lavandulol

(R)- and (S)-Lavandulol are important compounds in the cosmetics industry and in pheromone research. We have developed syntheses of (R)- and (S)-lavandulol from (S)- and (R)-limonene, respectively, by microbial Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the intermediate unsaturated hydroxy ketone. It has been found that the same strain of Acremonium roseum can be successfully used in the key step of the synthesis of both enantiomers of lavandulol.