Abstract
Isolates of Aspergillus ruber and A. repens have been grown on coconut oil as the sole carbon source in shake culture. Methyl ketones (C 5-C 13) were isolated by solvent extraction and analysed by combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. 2-Undecanone was the main volatile product reflecting the high concentration of dodecanoic acid in the original coconut oil. The reactivity of the individual short chain fatty acids as substrates for production of methyl ketones would appear to decrease with increasing molecular weight of the acid after taking into account the greater volatility of the lower molecular weight homologues. 2-Hexanone and 2-octanone were produced by all isolates in low concentration (< 1%). Nonanoic acid and 2-heptanone were converted into 2-octanone. Low concentrations of secondary alcohols were formed under aerobic conditions. It is suggested that the production of methyl ketones by partial β-oxidation is too closely related to mainstream metabolism to be of use in the biochemical taxonomy of the genus.
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