Microbial transformation of emetine into o-methyl psychotrine

Several microorganisms [fungi and bacteria] were screened for their ability to biotransform emetine. Cunninghamella blackesleeana MR.-198 was selected for scale-up transformation, as it showed a major transformation product and a small amount of unidentified minor product, in addition to untransformed emetine. The major metabolite was characterized using one and two dimensional NMR techniques as O-methylpsychotrine. Further confirmation was carried out by direct comparison with a reference sample prepared by methylation of psychotrine