Patent ID: 7863023

Claim:
A process for the stereoselective preparation of a gamma-lactone of formula (I) wherein the lactone ring can be unsaturated between carbon 2 and carbon 3, or is saturated, and R1 is a C 2-16 alkenyl, C 2-16 alkynyl or C 1-16 alkyl, comprising the following steps: a) culturing a microorganism from the genus Aspergillus or the genus Mortierella in an appropriate culture medium free of peptone to produce a cell culture having a mycelium composed of compartmentalized filaments with no conidiospores and exhibiting bulging structures, said culturing being optionally preceded by a step consisting of preculturing the microorganism, b) adding a substrate selected from the group consisting of fatty acids having at least five carbon atoms and methyl or ethyl esters thereof to said culture, c) hydroxylating the substrate at carbon 4 of the fatty acid moiety and converting the hydroxylated substrate into gamma-lactone of formula (I), wherein said hydroxylating and converting is accomplished by the microorganism, and d) recovering the gamma-lactone produced.