Oxidation-reduction relationship between cycloalkanones and the corresponding cycloalkanols in a cell suspension culture of Nicotiana tabacum.

The interconversion between 5 to 8-membered cycloalkanones and the corresponding cycloalkanols by a cell suspension culture of Nicotiana tabacum was studied. It was found that the interconversion is at equilibrium and the balance in the equilibrium depends on the number of carbon atoms in the carbocyclic ring of the substrates; the equilibrium in the interconversion of the 6-membered compound lies toward the side of the cycloalkanol, while in the cases of the 5, 7, and 8-membered compounds the cycloalkanones are favoured.