CRAMBE ABYSSINICA MEAL AS STARTING MATERIAL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ENANTIOMERICALLY PURE FINE CHEMICALS

Epi-progoitrin, the major glucosinolate of Crambe abyssinica, was read ily extracted from defatted crambe meal. A simple biotechnological pro cess using immobilized myrosinase allowed a high-yielding chemo- and s tereocontrolled transformation of epi-progoitrin into epi-goitrin, whi ch was obtained in pure stereochemical form. Many diverse chemical mod ifications can be envisaged on the derived epi-goitrin which should be considered as a novel sophisticated starting material for the product ion of enantiomerically pure fine chemicals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.