ENANTIOSELECTIVE GLUCOSYLATION OF (R,S)-1-PHENYLETHANOL BY THE CULTURED SUSPENSION CELLS OF HIGHER-PLANTS

(R,S)-1-Phenylethanol and its acetate were transformed into their beta -D-glucopyranoside by the cultured suspension cells of Nicotiana tabac um and Catharanthus roseus. The glucosylation with the green N. tabacu m cells occurred enantioselectively to give the glucoside of the (S)-a lcohol, while the biotransformation with the white N. tabacum cells an d C. roseus cells gave preferentially the glucoside of the (R)-alcohol .