TY - JOUR A1 - Kõllo, Marek A1 - Kasari, Marje A1 - Kasari, Villu A1 - Pehk, Tõnis A1 - Järving, Ivar A1 - Lopp, Margus A1 - Jõers, Arvi A1 - Kanger, Tõnis T1 - Designed whole-cell-catalysis-assisted synthesis of 9,11-secosterols JF - Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry PY - 2021/// VL - 17 SP - 581 EP - 588 SN - 1860-5397 DO - 10.3762/bjoc.17.52 PB - Beilstein-Institut JA - Beilstein J. Org. Chem. UR - https://doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.17.52 KW - chemoenzymatic synthesis KW - cortisol KW - hydroxylation KW - secosterol KW - whole-cell catalysis N2 - A method for the synthesis of 9,11-secosteroids starting from the natural corticosteroid cortisol is described. There are two key steps in this approach, combining chemistry and synthetic biology. Stereo- and regioselective hydroxylation at C9 (steroid numbering) is carried out using whole-cell biocatalysis, followed by the chemical cleavage of the C–C bond of the vicinal diol. The two-step method features mild reaction conditions and completely excludes the use of toxic oxidants. ER -