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. 1995 Oct;61(10):3645–3649. doi: 10.1128/aem.61.10.3645-3649.1995

Transformations of morphine alkaloids by Pseudomonas putida M10.

M T Long 1, A M Hailes 1, G W Kirby 1, N C Bruce 1
PMCID: PMC167664  PMID: 7487001

Abstract

The oxidation of morphine by washed-cell incubations of Pseudomonas putida M10 gave rise to a large number of transformation products including hydromorphone (dihydromorphinone), 14 beta-hydroxymorphine, 14 beta-hydroxymorphinone, and dihydromorphine. Similarly, in incubations with oxymorphone (14 beta-hydroxydihydromorphinone) as substrate, the major transformation product was identified as oxymorphol (14 beta-hydroxydihydromorphine). The identities of all these biological products were confirmed by mass spectrometry and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This is the first report describing structural evidence for the biological synthesis of 14 beta-hydroxymorphine and 14 beta-hydroxymorphinone. These products have applications as intermediates in the synthesis of semisynthetic opiate drugs.

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Selected References

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