While looking for info on 6-HO-Harman in Grewia mollis, I found a paper detailing the biotransformation of Harman to 6-HO-Harman using Cunninghamella Blakesleeana. The max yield was found to be 17.4%

Could it be possible to follow a similar method to hydroxylate other compounds of interest?

https://www.tandfonline....0.1080/10942910903580959

Biotransformation of tryptophan by Phaseolus vulgaris suspension culture

"The carboline alkaloids, harman and norharman, detected in the culture filtrate of Phaseolus vulgaris suspension culture are the two major products of the biotransformation of tryptophan by this culture."


Microbial metabolites of harman alkaloids

"Several microorganisms showed the ability to transform the harman alkaloids, harmaline (1), harmalol (2) and harman (5). Harmaline (1) and harmalol (2) were converted by Rhodotorula rubra ATCC 20129 into the tryptamines, 2-acetyl-3-(2-acetamidoethyl)-7-methoxyindole (3) and 2-acetyl-3-(2-acetamidoethyl)-7-hydroxyindole (4), respectively. Harman (5) was biotransformed by Cunninghamella echinulata NRRL 3655 into 6-hydroxyharman (6) and harman-2-oxide (7)."


Not sure how practical these procedures are, but I found the results interesting nonetheless.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

There are some similar ideas in this thread.

If you have time to look into it leave a comment or two. I would love to do a collaboration on the topic and with possible testing of obtainable products we would have something tangible to work with.

Some of the info in the thread could be updated or elaborated upon, however I don't have much time these days to be more active on the forum. Maybe with other members showing interesting to work upon it I would get more enthusiasm.



Have a great day!