Method for producing novel spinosyn derivatives

The present invention relates to methods for producing novel spinosyn derivatives which are substituted with a 1-hydroxy-ethyl radical in the C-21 position and to novel spinosyn derivatives of this type per se and to their use for producing novel spinosyns.

The spinosyns are known compounds. Spinosyns are fermentation products which are produced by cultures of the actinomycetes Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Natural spinosyns consist of a tetracyclic polyketide backbone (aglycone) with a 12-membered macrolide ring and a 5,6,5-cis-anti-trans-tricycle and also a D-forosamine and a 2,3,4-ti-O-methyl-L-rhamnose sugar moiety (Kirst et al., 1991, Tetrahedron Letters, 32:4839). More than 20 different natural spinosyns, the “A83543 complex”, have been described previously (cf. WO 97/00265, WO 94/20518 and WO 93/09126). EP-A 375316, for example, describes the spinosyns A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and J. WO 93/09126 discloses the spinosyns L, M, N, Q, R, S and T. The spinosyns K, O, P, U, V, W and Y and their derivatives are mentioned in WO 94/20518. These compounds vary in the substitution of one or more methyl groups on the tetracyclic backbone, on the D-forosamine-sugar moiety or on the 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-L-rhamnose sugar moiety. A 17-pseudoaglycone which reacts the D-forosamine sugar moiety has likewise been isolated from S. spinosa culture broth.

The main components of the A83543 complex produced by S. spinosa are the variants spinosyn A and spinosyn D which are the essential components of the product spinosad (cf. Pesticide Manual, British Crop Protection Council, 11^thEd., 1997, page 1272 and Dow Elanco Trade Magazine Down to Earth, Vol. 52, NO. 1, 1997 and the literature quoted therein).

If the amino sugar in the C-17 position is not present, the compounds are referred to as spinosyn A, D, etc. 17-pseudoaglycone; if the neutral sugar in the C-9 position is not present, the compounds are referred to as spinosyn A, D, etc. 9-pseudoaglycone. Spinosyns without the two sugar residues in the positions C-9 and C-17 are referred to as spinosyn aglycone.

Spinosyns are suitable for controlling arachnids, nematodes, ectoparasites (cf. WO 01/11962, WO 01/11963, WO 01/11964) and insects, in particular Lepidopteraand Diptera species. In addition, technical application of the spinosyns is environmentally sound and, moreover, this substance class has an attractive toxicological profile.

However, animal pests, in particular ectoparasites, or plant pests which are currently controlled using spinosyns can be expected to be able to develop a resistance to these commercially available active substances. It is therefore important to produce novel biologically active spinosyn derivatives which can replaced the spinosyns currently used for controlling pests.

Recently, Saccharopolyspora sp. (LW107129) has been used to generate specific natural aglycone derivatives of spinosyn which have a hydroxyl group in the C-8 position of the macrolide backbone and which have become known as insecticidal compounds (cf. WO 01/19840). While numerous modifications of spinosyns have been carried out (cf. WO 97/00265), derivatizations on the methyl group and ethyl group in the C-21 position of the macrolide backbone drew only little attention. Although functionalization of the alkyl radical in the C-21 position would be advantageous, inter alia for derivatization reactions, only few spinosyn derivatives are known whose substituents have a hydroxyl group in C-21. For example, only recently have spinosyn derivatives been described which are substituted in C-21 with a 3-hydroxy-1-butenyl radical, which may, where appropriate, additionally carry a hydroxyl group in the abovementioned C-8 position and which have an insecticidal action (cf. WO 01/19840).

While chemical synthesis methods for preparing spinosyn derivatives have been described (cf. Martynow, J. G. and Kirst, H. A., 1994, J. Org. Chem., 59: 1548), there has up until now been no knowledge about chemical synthesis of the abovementioned spinosyn derivatives having a 1-hydroxy-ethyl radical in the C-21 position.

It is the object of the present invention to provide suitable methods which may be used for the selective and/or stereospecific production of novel spinosyn derivatives having a 1-hydroxy-ethyl radical in the C-21 position.

The object was achieved by providing methods for producing compounds of the general formula (I),
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in which

A-B is any of the following groups: —HC═CH—, —HC═C(CH₃)—; —H₂C—CH₂— or —H₂C—CH(CH₃)—,
D is the group
R¹is hydrogen or an amino sugar and
R²is hydrogen or a sugar,

in which compounds of the general formula (II),

in which

A-B, D and R¹are as defined above,

are contacted with a microorganism in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions or with an enzyme extract prepared therefrom or with one or more enzymes isolated therefrom.

The starting compounds are thus selectively and/or stereospecifically converted to spinosyn derivatives substituted in the C-21 position by a 1-hydroxy-ethyl radical by means of biotransformation using microorganisms or their enzymes.

The term “spinosyn derivatives”, as used herein, also comprises spinosyn aglycone compounds, i.e. compounds which have the macrolide backbone of the spinosyns but no sugar radicals.

Preference is given to using as starting compounds those compounds of the general formula (II)

in which, in the case (1) that

A-B is any of the following groups: —HC═CH—, —HC═C(CH₃)—, —H₂C—CH₂— or —H₂C—CH(CH₃)— and

D is the group

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1a

R²is a sugar of the formula 2a

or in which, in the case (2) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —H₂C—CH₂— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1a and

R²is hydrogen or a sugar of the formula 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e or 2f

or in which, in the case (3) that

A-B is any of the following groups: —HC═CH—, —HC═C(CH₃)— or —H₂C—CH₂— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is hydrogen or an amino sugar of the formula 1b

R²is hydrogen or a sugar of the abovementioned formula 2a

or in which, in the case (4) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —HC═C(CH₃)— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1a and

R²is a sugar of the formula 2g, 2h, 2i, 2j or 2k

or in which, in the case (5) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —H₂C—CH₂— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1a and

R²is a sugar of the formula 2l or 2m

or in which, in the case (6) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —HC═C(CH₃)— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is hydrogen or an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1b or an amino sugar of the formula 1c

R²is a sugar of the abovementioned formula 2b, 2c, 2g or 2h or a sugar of the formula 2n

or in which, in the case (7) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1a and

R²is a sugar of the formula 2o

or in which, in the case (8) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1b and

R²is a sugar of the abovementioned formula 2d, 2i or 2j

or a sugar of the formula 2p

or in which, in the case (9) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is hydrogen or an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1c and

R²is a sugar of the abovementioned formula 2i or 2p,

or in which, in the case (10) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1d, 1e or 1f

R²is a sugar of the abovementioned formula 2a

or in which, in the case (11) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is the group

R¹is hydrogen or an amino sugar of the abovementioned formula 1a.

Particular preference is given to using as starting compounds those compounds of the general formula (II)

in which, in the case (12) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —HC═C(CH₃)— and

D is the group

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1a and

R²is a sugar of the formula 2a, 2g or 2h

or in which; in the case (13) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1a and

R²is hydrogen or a sugar of the formula 2d, 2e, 2l, 2m or 2o

or in which, in the case (14) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —HC═C(CH₃)— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is hydrogen or an amino sugar of the formula 1b and

R²is hydrogen or a sugar of the formula 2a

or in which A-B, D and R¹are as defined in the case (11).

Very particular preference is given to using as starting compounds compounds of the general formula (II)

in which, in the case (15) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —HC═C(CH₃)— and

D is the group

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1a and

R²is a sugar of the formula 2a

or in which, in the case (16) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1a and

R²is hydrogen or a sugar of the formula 2d, 2l or 2m

or in which A-B, D and R¹are as defined in the case (11).

Most preference is given to using as starting compounds compounds of the general formula (II)

in which, in the case (17) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— or —HC═C(CH₃)— and

D is the group

R¹is an amino sugar of the formula 1a and

R²is a sugar of the formula 2a

or in which, in the case (18) that

A-B is the group —HC═CH— and

D is as defined above,

R¹is hydrogen and

R²is hydrogen.

The present invention also relates to the compounds of the general formula (I) in which A-B, D and R¹are as defined above.

The abbreviation “Me” used herein represents methyl; the abbreviation “Et” represents ethyl.

The method of the invention may be used to form the optically active, stereoisomeric forms but also diastereomeric forms of the compounds of the general formula (I).

The compounds of the invention of the formula (I) can exist in stereoisomeric forms which either behave as image and mirror image (enantiomers) or which do not behave as image and mirror image (diastereomers). The present invention relates to both the enantiomers and the diastereomers and to the respective mixtures thereof. The racemic forms as well as the diastereomers can be resolved into the stereo-isomerically uniform components in the known manner. Where appropriate, methods known per se can be used to interconvert said isomers.

The compounds of the invention, in which R¹is an amino sugar of the formulae 1a-1e, may form salts. Salts are formed according to the standard methods for preparing salts. For example, the compounds of the invention are neutralized with appropriate acids in order to produce acid addition salts. Representatively usable acid addition salts are salts which form, for example, due to a reaction with other inorganic acids such as, for example, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, or organic carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, formic acid, maleic acid, camphoric acid, phthalic acid, glycolic acid, glutaric acid, stearic acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, cinnamic acid, picric acid, benzoic acid, or organic sulfonic acids such as methanesulfonic acid and para-toluenesulfonic acid, or with basic amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, or the like.

The compounds of the general formula (II), which may be used as starting compounds for the method of the invention, have been described (cf. Creemer L. C. et al., 1998, J. Antibiotics 51 (8): 795-800; Sparks T. C. et al., 1998, J. Econ. Entomol. 91 (6): 1277-1283; Sparks T. C. et al., 2000, Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 67 (3): 187-197; Paquette L. A. et al., 1998, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120 (11): 2553-2563; Evans D. A. et al., 1993, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115 (11): 4497-4513; Crouse G. D. et al., 2001, Pest. Manag. Sci. 57 (2): 177-185; Creemer L. C. et al., 2000, J. Antibiotics 53 (2): 171-178; Sparks T. C. et al., 2000, Proc.-Beltwide Cotton Conf. Vol. 2: 1225-1229) or may be prepared according to the method described in WO 01/16303. Similarly, the starting compounds usable for the method of the invention may be obtained starting from the appropriate natural spinosyns.

When using, for example, the spinosyn A aglycone of the formula (IIa), the method of the invention can be represented by the following reaction scheme 1:
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Selective and/or stereo specific hydroxylations of natural products and of synthetic compounds by bioconversion using microorganisms or their enzymes have been described in the literature. Use was made, in particular, of cells and/or enzymes of Gram-positive bacteria such: as streptomycetes or Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas or fungi such as Fusarium. Examples of microorganisms containing appropriate enzyme classes such as, for example, P-450 monooxygenases are listed in the following table:

Organism/enzymeChemical compound classReferenceStreptomyces halstediiHydroxylation ofU.S. Pat. No. 5972994galbonolides A and BCStreptomyces sp. MA 7065Hydroxylation of Taxol andU.S. Pat. No. 5756536cephalomanninesStreptomyces roseochromogenesHydroxylation of 11-oxo- orU.S. Pat. No. 2864837(Waksman collection 3689),11β-hydroxy-6α-Streptomyces sp. (ATCC 11009),methylprogesterone to theand Streptomyces16α-hydroxy derivative whichroseochromogenes (ATCC 3347)is then acetylatedNocardioides luteus6-Hydroxy-7-deoxytaxanesU.S. Pat. No. 6162622Fusarium moniliformePreparation of 7α-hydroxylFR-A 2771105derivatives fromdehydroepiandrosterone andpregnenoloneBeauveria bassiana2-phenoxypropionic acidWO 95/29249Cunninghamella blakesleenaHydroxylation of avermectinU.S. Pat. No. 4666937(ATCC 8688a)EP-A 194125Pseudomonas testosteroni ATCCm-Hydroxybenzoate isU.S. Pat. No. 421741631492transformed to give 2,3-dihydroxybenzoateMortierella maculataPreparation of pravastatin,WO 00/46175starting from compactinNADPH cytochrome-P450Hydroxylation of variousWO 93/21326reductase of plantssubstratesBacterium NRRL-B-18737Preparation of bisphenol alkylU.S. Pat. No. 5132228alcohols, starting frombisphenol alkanesPseudomonas mendocina kr-1Bioconversion of a phenylWO 89/09828monooxygenase genescompound to a phenoliccompoundMicroorganisms or enzymesPreparation of optically activeWO 00/296063-hydroxy-pyrrolidinesRecombinant Yarrowia lipolyticaBioconversion of progesteroneWO 00/03008expressing heterologousto 17α-hydroxyprogesteronecytochrome-P450 systemsGeranylgeraniol-18-hydroxylaseBioconversion ofU.S. Pat. No. 5879916purified from Croton sublyratusgeranylgeraniol to plaunotol

According to the invention and to the abovementioned reaction scheme 1, it is possible to contact compounds of the general formula (II) in which A-B, D and R¹are as defined above with a suitable microorganism in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions and then to isolate the desired compounds of the general formula (I).

It is also possible to use, instead of said microorganisms, enzyme extracts and purified enzymes, if appropriate after addition or with regeneration of the required cofactors, which are obtainable by common methods starting from said microorganisms.

It is in particular also possible to clone genes determining the biosynthesis of such enzymes and express them in foreign hosts such as, for example, Escherichia coli. Recombinant bacteria of this type may be used immediately for biotransformation. In addition, it is also possible to use an enzyme extract of such a recombinant cell or a purified protein for biotransformation, where appropriate after addition or with regeneration of the required cofactors.

Preference is given to using for the method of the invention a microorganism from the group of actinomycetes, in particular of the genus Streptomyces.

Particular preference is given to using for the method of the invention a strain of the genus Streptomyces djakartensis, Streptomyces griseofuscus, Streptomyces caelestis, Streptomyces antibioticus, Streptomyces griseus or Streptomyces aureofaciens.

Very particular preference is given to using for the method of the invention a strain having the characteristic features of the following strains:

NameDeposition No.Streptomyces djakartensisNRRL B-12103Streptomyces griseofuscusDSM 40191Streptomyces caelestisDSM 40084Streptomyces antibioticusATCC 11891Streptomyces griseusDSM 40937Streptomyces aureofaciensDSM 46447

The strains mentioned in the table have been deposited again with the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Brunswick, Germany, in accordance with requirements of the Budapest treaty:

NameDeposition No.Streptomyces djakartensisDSM 14327Streptomyces griseofuscusDSM 14330Streptomyces caelestisDSM 14328Streptomyces antibioticusDSM 14329Streptomyces griseusDSM 14331Streptomyces aureofaciensDSM 14332

The strains are described in more detail in Example 16. It is possible to use not only the deposited strains per se but also mutants thereof, as long as these mutants have the characteristic features of the deposited strains, i.e. the mutants must still be capable of carrying out the bioconversion of the invention.

The aqueous nutrient medium preferably contains an assimilable carbon source and an assimilable nitrogen source.

The compounds of the formula (I) are produced, for example, when fermenting a strain of the species Streptomyces djakartensis, S. griseofuscus, S. caelestis, S. antibioticus, S. griseus or S. aureofaciens in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions in the presence of compounds of the formula (II). The microorganisms are typically fermented in a nutrient medium containing a carbon source and, where appropriate, proteinaceous material. Preferred carbon sources include glucose, brown sugar, sucrose, glycerol, starch, corn starch, lactose, dextrin, molasses, etc. Preferred nitrogen sources include cotton seed meal, yeast, autolyzed bakers' yeast, solid milk constituents, soybean meal, cornmeal, pancreatic or papainic casein hydrolyzates, solid distillation components, broths of animal peptone, meat and bone fragments, etc. Preference is given to using combinations of these carbon and nitrogen sources. Trace elements such as, for example, zinc, magnesium, manganese, cobalt, iron, etc. need not be added to the culturing medium as long as tapwater and nonpurified constituents are being used as components of the medium.

Production of the compounds of the general formula (I) may be induced at any temperature which ensures sufficient growth of the microorganisms. The temperature is preferably between 21° C. and 32° C., particularly preferably approximately 28° C. Optimal production of the compounds of the formula (I) is usually achieved within 2 to 4 days after addition of the compounds of the formula (II) to the culture. The compounds of the invention may be produced both in shaker bottles and in stirred fermenters.

Preferred growth conditions and media for growing in shaker flasks are described in Examples 2 to 9.

The compounds of the invention as biotransformation product may be isolated from the culturing medium by common methods.

Various methods may be applied in order to isolate and purify the compounds of the invention from the fermentation broth, such as, for example, preparative gel chromatography, preparative chromatography on reversed phase or preparative absorption chromatography. The detection may be carried out, for example, by UV absorption or mass spectrometry.

The compounds of the invention may be used for preparing biologically active, in particular insecticidal and acaricidal, spinosyns. The biological efficacy of particular natural aglycone derivatives of spinosyn, which have a hydroxyl group in the C-8 position of the macrolide backbone, has recently been described (cf. WO 01/19840). Further examples which may be mentioned are spinosyn derivatives with a 3-hydroxy-1-butenyl radical in the C-21 position, which have likewise been described recently. Where appropriate, these spinosyn derivatives may also additionally carry a hydroxyl group in any of the abovementioned C-8 position and likewise have an insecticidal activity (cf. WO 01/19840).

It is advantageous to use suitable protective groups (PG) when preparing further spinosyn derivatives from the inventive compounds of the general formula (I) in which R¹is hydrogen and D is the group C═O or C—O—R²where R²is hydrogen. Known examples of protective groups (PG) for hydroxyl groups are substituted methyl ethers and ethers, substituted ethyl ethers, substituted benzyl ethers, silyl ethers, esters, carbonates or sulfonates (cf. Greene T. W., Wuts P. G. W. in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis; John Wiley & Sohns, Inc. 1999, Protection for the hydroxyl group, including 1,2- and 1,3-diols).

Examples of protective groups (PG) of the substituted methyl ether type, which may be mentioned, are: methoxymethyl (MOM) ethers, methylthiomethyl (MTM) ethers, (phenyl-dimethylsilyl)methoxymethyl (SMOM-OR) ethers, benzyloxymethyl (BOM-OR) ethers, para-methoxybenzyloxymethyl (PMBM-OR) ethers, para-nitrobenzyloxy-methyl ethers, ortho-nitrobenzyloxymethyl (NBOM-OR) ethers, (4-methoxyphenoxy)-methyl (p-AOM-OR) ethers, guaiacolmethyl (GUM-OR) ethers, tert-butoxymethyl ethers, 4-pentenyl-oxymethyl (POM-OR) ethers, silyloxymethyl ethers, 2-methoxyethoxy-methyl (MEM-OR) ethers, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxymethyl ethers, bis(2-chloroethoxy)-methyl ethers, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl (SEM-OR) ethers, methoxy-methyl (MM-OR) ethers.

Examples of protective groups (PG) of the substituted ethyl ether type, which may be mentioned, are: 1-ethoxyethyl (EE-OR) ethers, 1-(2-chloroethoxy)ethyl (Cee-OR) ethers, 1-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]ethyl (SEE-OR) ethers, 1-methyl-1-methoxyethyl (MIP-OR) ethers, 1-methyl-1-benzyloxyethyl (MBE-OR) ethers, 1-methyl-1-benzyloxy-2-fluoro-ethyl ethers, 1-methyl-1-phenoxy-ethyl ethers, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl ethers, 1,1-dianisyl-2,2,2-trichloroethyl (DATE-OR) ethers, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-phenyliso-propyl (HIP-OR) ethers, 2-trimethylsilylethyl ethers, 2-(benzylthio)ethyl ethers, 2-(phenyl-selenyl)ethyl ethers. Further examples of protective groups (PG) of the ether type, which may be mentioned, are: tetrahydropyranyl (THP-OR) ethers, 3-bromo-tetrahydropyranyl (3-BrTHP-OR) ethers, tetrahydrothiopyranyl ethers, 1-methoxy-cyclohexyl ethers, 2- and 4-picolyl ethers, 3-methyl-2-picolyl-N-oxido ethers, 2-quinolinylmethyl (Qm-OR) ethers, 1-pyrenylmethyl ethers, dipenylmethyl (DPM-OR) ethers, para,para′-dinitrobenzhydryl (RO-DNB) ethers, 5-dibenzosuberyl ethers, triphenylmethyl (Tr-OR) ethers, α-naphthyldiphenylmethyl ethers, para-methoxy-phenyldiphenylmethyl (MMTr-OR) ethers, di(para-methoxy-phenyl)phenylmethyl (DMTr-OR) ethers, tri(para-methoxy-phenyl)methyl (TMTr-OR) ethers, 4-(4′-bromo-phenacyloxy) phenyldiphenylmethyl ethers, 4,4′,4″-tris(4,5-dichlorophthalimido-phenyl)methyl (CPTr-OR) ethers, 4,4′,4″-tris(levulinoyloxy-phenyl)methyl (TLTr-OR) ethers, 4,4′,4″-tris(benzoyloxyphenyl)-methyl (TBTr-OR) ethers, 4,4′-dimethoxy-3″-[N-(imidazolylmethyl)]-trityl (IDTr-OR) ethers, 4,4′-dimethoxy-3″-[N-(imidazolyl-ethyl)carbamoyl]trityl (IETr-OR) ethers, 1,1-bis(4-methoxy-phenyl)-1′-pyrenylmethyl (Bmpm-OR) ethers, 9-anthryl ethers, 9-(9-phenyl)xanthenyl (pixyl-OR) ethers, 9-(9-phenyl-10-oxo)anthryl (tritylon ethers). 4-Methoxy-tetrahydropyranyl (MTHP-OR) ethers, 4-methoxy-tetrahydrothio-pyranyl ethers, 4-methoxy-tetrahydrothio-pyranyl ether S,S-dioxide, 1-[(2-chloro-4-methyl)phenyl]-4-methoxypiperidin-4-yl (CTMP-OR) ethers, 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxy-piperidin-4-yl (Fpmp-OR) ethers, 1,4-dioxan-2-yl ethers, tetrahydrofuranyl ethers, tetrahydrothiofuranyl ethers, 2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7a-octahydro-7,8,8-trimethyl-4,7-methanebenzofuran-2-yl (RO-MBF) ethers, tert-butyl ethers, allyl ethers, propargyl ethers, para-chlorophenyl ethers, para-methoxyphenyl ethers, para-nitrophenyl ethers, 2,4-dinitro-phenyl (RO-DNP) ethers, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl ethers, benzyl (Bn-OR) ethers. Examples of protective groups of the substituted benzyl ether type, which may be mentioned, are: para-methoxybenzyl (MPM-OR) ethers, 3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl (DMPM-OR) ethers, ortho-nitrobenzyl ethers, para-nitrobenzyl ethers, para-halobenzyl ethers, 2,6-dichloro-benzyl ethers, para-cyanobenzyl ethers, para-phenyl-benzyl ethers, 2,6-difluorobenzyl ethers, para-aminoacylbenzyl (PAB-OR) ethers, para-azidobenzyl (Azb-OR) ethers, 4-azido-3-chlorobenzyl ethers, 2-trifluoromethyl-benzyl ethers, para-(methylsulfinyl)benzyl (Msib-OR) ethers. Examples of protective groups (PG) of the silyl ether type, which may be mentioned are: trimethylsilyl (TMS-OR) ethers, triethylsilyl (TES-OR) ethers, triiso-propylsilyl (TIPS-OR) ethers, dimethylisopropyl-silyl (IPDMS-OR) ethers, diethylisopropylsilyl (DEIPS-OR) ethers, dimethylhexylsilyl (TDS-OR) ethers, tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS-OR) ethers, tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS-OR) ethers, tribenzylsilyl ethers, tri-para-xylylsilyl ethers, triphenylsilyl (TPS-OR) ethers, diphenylmethylsilyl (DPMS-OR) ethers, di-tert-butylmethylsilyl (DTBMS-OR) ethers, tris(tri-methylsilyl)silyl ethers (sisyl ether), (2-hydroxystyryl)-dimethylsilyl (HSDMS-OR) ethers, (2-hydroxystyryl)diisopropylsilyl (HSDIS-OR) ethers, tert-butylmethoxyphenylsilyl (TBMPS-OR) ethers, tert-butoxydiphenylsilyl (DPTBOS-OR) ethers. Examples of protective groups (PG) of the ester type, which may be mentioned, are: formic esters, benzoylformic esters, acetic esters (RO-Ac), chloroacetic esters, dichloroacetic esters, trichloroacetic esters, trifluoroacetic esters (RO-TFA), methoxy-acetic esters, triphenylmethoxyacetic esters, phenoxyacetic esters, para-chlorophenoxy-acetic esters, phenylacetic esters, diphenylacetic esters (DPA-OR), nicotinic esters, 3-phenylpropionic esters, 4-pentenoic esters, 4-oxopentanoic esters (levulinates) (Lev-OR), 4,4-(ethylenedithio)-pentanoic esters (RO-LevS), 5-[3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)hydroxy-methylphenoxy]levulinic esters, pivalic esters (Pv-OR), 1-adamantanecarboxylic esters, crotonic esters, 4-methoxy-crotonic esters, benzoic esters (Bz-OR), para-phenyl-benzoic esters, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic esters (mesitoic esters), 4-(methylthiomethoxy)-butyric esters (MTMB-OR), 2-(methylthiomethoxymethyl)benzoic esters (MTMT-OR). Examples of protective groups (PG) of the ester type, which may be mentioned, are: methyl carbonate, methoxymethyl carbonate, 9-fluorenylmethyl carbonate (Fmoc-OR), ethyl carbonate, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl carbonate (Troc-OR), 1,1-dimethyl-2,2,2-trichloro-ethyl carbonate (TCBOC-OR), 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl carbonate (TMSEC-OR), 2-(phenylsulfonyl)-ethyl carbonates (Psec-OR), 2-(triphenylphosphonio)-ethyl carbonates (Peoc-OR), tert-butyl carbonate (Boc-OR), isobutyl carbonate, vinyl carbonate, allyl carbonate (Alloc-OR), p-nitrophenyl carbonate, benzyl carbonate (Z-OR), para-methoxybenzyl carbonate, 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl carbonate, ortho-nitrobenzyl carbonate, para-nitrobenzyl carbonate, 2-dansylethyl carbonate (Dnseoc-OR), 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-ethyl carbonate (Npeoc-OR), 2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)ethyl carbonate (Dnpeoc-OR). Examples of protective groups (PG) of the sulfonate type, which may be mentioned, are: allylsulfonate (Als-OR), methanesulfonates (Ms-OR), benzylsulfonates, tosylates (Ts-OR), 2-[(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]sulfonates (Npes-OR).

When preparing further spinosyn derivatives from the abovementioned compounds of the general formula (I), it may be quite advantageous to block initially the 1-hydroxy-ethyl radical in the C-21 position and, where appropriate, the hydroxyl group in the C-9 position (where R²═H) with suitable, for example one of the abovementioned, protective groups (PG). The use of two different protective groups (PG¹and PG², respectively) is recommended here, and these protective groups should be appropriately compatible, i.e. removable from one another selectively and independently. Subsequently, a derivatization, for example glycosidation, by means of chemical synthesis or by microbial bioconversion (cf. also U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,089; introduction of the radicals R or R′) may take place on the hydroxyl group in the C-17 position to give the spinosyn derivatives (Ia-2 or Ib-2) (cf. schemes 2 and 3).
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After successful derivatization in positions. C-9 and, respectively, C-17 (cf. Ia-4) or C-17 (cf. Ib-2), the remaining protective group (PG) can be removed and the spinosyn derivative of the general formula (I) be obtained.

EXAMPLES
Example 1

Strains Used

TABLEStrains capable of biotransformation of the compound (IIa) to give thecorresponding derivatives having a 1-hydroxy-ethyl radical in theC-21 position (compound (Ia)):NameInternal referenceDeposition No.Streptomyces djakartensisNRRL B-12103DSM 14327Streptomyces griseofuscusDSM 40191DSM 14330Streptomyces caelestisDSM40084DSM 14328Streptomyces antibioticusATCC 11891DSM 14329Streptomyces griseusDSM 40937DSM 14331Streptomyces aureofaciensDSM 46447DSM 14332
ATCC = American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA, U.S.A.

DSM = Deutsche Sammlung für Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Brunswick, Germany.

NRRL = Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection, Peoria, IL, U.S.A.

Example 2

Biotransformation Using S. djakartensis NRRL B-12103