The biotransformation of some clovanes by botrytis cinerea

The metabolism of the fungistatic agent 2beta-methoxyclovan-9alpha-ol (2) by the fungus Botrytis cinerea has been investigated. Biotransformation of compound 2 yielded compounds 3-5, 7, and 9. The major metabolites of compound 2 each show much reduced biological activity when compared with the parent compound. Also studied were the effects of B. cinerea on the metabolism of the related compounds 2beta-methoxyclovan-9-one (3), 2beta-methoxyclovan-9beta-ol (4), and clovan-2,9-dione (6). Compounds 3, 4, 8, and 9 are described for the first time.