Regio- and stereoselective 12-O-demethylation of schizandrin into gomisin T, an important intermediate to gomisin A, by Mortierella sp. (TM-I1104)

A strain TM-I1104 identified as Mortierella sp. was discovered from soil as the most efficient fungus, which converted schizandrin into gomisin T in 91% regioselectivity by microbial 12-O-demethylation. Under optimum conditions, the yield of gomisin T reached around 80%. The faculty of 12-O-demethylation was specific on (+)-schizandrin (natural form) and the optical purity of gomisin T converted from (±)-schizandrin was 96% ee.