| abstract |
A process for preparing (+)-homopilopic acid and the salts thereof which comprises hydrolyzing a mixture of (+)-homopilopic acid ester of the general formula (I): <CHEM> wherein R1 denotes a straight or branched C1-C10 hydrocarbon, and (-)-homopilopic acid ester of the general formula (II): <CHEM> wherein R2 denotes a straight or branched C1-C10 hydrocarbon, in the presence of a culture, cells, culture supernatant or treated matter of a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter, Aspergillus, Escherichia, Cunninghamella, Xanthomonas, Candida, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Cellulomonas, Nocardia, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Flavobacterium, Mycobacterium, Rhizomucor, Rhodotorula or Rhodococcus. |