Biocatalytic method for the controlled degradation of terpene compounds

A biocatalytic method for preparing an ester compound, comprising:

• (1) contacting a carbonyl precursor compound of general formula I
• wherein
• “a” denotes a single or double bond,
• “x” is 1 if “a” denotes a double bond, or “x” is 2 if “a” denotes a single bond
• R1 represent independently of each other H or lower alkyl,
• R2 represents H, a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl residue, or a group Cyc-A-,
• wherein
• Cyc represents an optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated, mono- or polycyclic hydrocarbyl residue, and
• A represents a chemical bond or an optionally substituted, straight chain or branched alkylene bridge,
• R3 represent independently of each other H or a C1-Cis hydrocarbyl group, or a lower alkyl group,
• and
• when “a” denotes a single bond, then Z represents a hydrocarbyl residue containing a carbonyl group,
• and
• when “a” denotes a double bond, then Z forms, together with the carbon atom which it is attached to, either a carbonyl group, or an alkylidene residue carrying a terminal carbonyl group
• or
• when “a” denotes a double bond, and Z forms, together with the carbon atom which it is attached to, a carbonyl group, then R2 and R1, together with the carbon atoms which they are attached to, may also form a cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted carbocyclic ring group,
• and wherein said carbonyl compound of general formula I is provided in stereoisomerically pure form, or as a mixture of stereoisomers;
• with a polypeptide having Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO) (EC 1.13.14.-) activity, so as to form the respective carbonyl ester,
• (2) and optionally isolating the carbonyl ester formed in step (1), wherein said carbonyl ester compound is obtained in stereoisomerically pure form or as a mixture of stereoisomers.