Enantioselectivity in the biotransformation of bicyclic monoterpene alcohols with the cultured suspension cells of Nicotiana tabacum.

The enantiomeric pairs of borneol, isoborneol, and isopinocampheol were incubated with the cultured suspension cells of Nicotiana tabacum. One of each enantiomeric pair was preferentially transformed to the corresponding carbonyl compound. It was thus demonstrated that the cultured cells have the ability to discriminate between the enantiomers of the bicyclic terpene alcohols.