The invention provides an improved method of isolating the 3-(E)-isomer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid from a mixture of corresponding (E/Z)isomers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method for the biocatalytic preparation of (3E,7E)-homofarnesylic acid; as well as a novel biocatalytic method for the improved preparation of homofarnesol, in particular of (3E,7E)-homofarnesol and homofarnesol preparations having an increased content of (3E,7E)-homofarnesol. The present invention also relates to methods of preparing()-ambroxby applying (3E,7E)-homofarnesylic acid or (3E,7E)-homofarnesol as obtained according to the invention as starting material.

An enzyme-mediated method for the production of 3a-ethyl-6,6,9a-trimethyldodecahydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan, the products of said method, and uses of said products.

A method of isolating and purifying ()-Ambrox from a reaction mixture comprising ()-Ambrox and one or more of the compounds (II), (III) and (IV) ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of sclareolide and related compounds by the biocatalytic cyclization of polyunsaturated carboxylic acid compounds, in particular of homofarnesylic acid and related compounds; and to a process for the preparation of ambroxide via the biocatalytic cyclization of homofarnesylic acid to sclareolide.

A solid form of ()-Ambrox formed by a bioconversion process.

The present invention relates to novel mutants with cyclase activity and use thereof in a method for biocatalytic cyclization of terpenes, such as in particular for the production of isopulegol by cyclization of citronellal; a method for the preparation of menthol and methods for the biocatalytic conversion of further compounds with structural motifs similar to terpene.

The present invention relates to novel mutants with cyclase activity and use thereof in a method for biocatalytic cyclization of terpenes, such as in particular for the production of isopulegol by cyclization of citronellal; a method for the preparation of menthol and methods for the biocatalytic conversion of further compounds with structural motifs similar to terpene.

The present invention relates to a novel process for cyclizing geranyllinalool using the squalene-hopene cyclase from Zymomonas mobilis (Zm-SHC) or a cyclase with at least 80% sequence identity to the Zm-SHC, and cyclization products obtained in this process.

A method of isolating and purifying ()-Ambrox from a reaction mixture comprising ()-Ambrox and one or more of the compounds (II), (III) and (IV)

##STR00001##

A solid form of (?)-Ambrox formed by a bioconversion process.