Biocatalytic oxidation of 1,4-diols and γ-lactols into γ-lactones : application to chemoenzymatic synthesis of drospirenone

Oxidation of 1-alkyl-1,4-butanediols with Acetobacter aceti MIM 2000/28 gave the corresponding γ-lactones in good yields. The biotransformation occurred with intermediate formation of γ-lactols, which are also substrates for oxidation with Acetobacter aceti MIM 2000/28, as validated by selective biotransformation of 6β,7β;15β,16β-dimethylene-3-oxo-17α-pregn-4-en-21,17-carbolactol to drospirenone.