Bio-transformation of artemisinin using soil microbe: Direct C-acetoxylation of artemisinin at C-9 by Penicillium simplissimum

Potent antimalarial compound artemisinin, 1 was bio-transformed to C-9 acetoxy artemisinin, 2 using soil microbe Penicillium simplissimum along with C-9 hydroxy derivative 3. The products were characterized using high field NMR and MS–MS data. The absolute stereochemistry of the newly generated chiral centers has been ascertained by COSY and 1D NOESY experiments. This is the first Letter of direct C-acetoxylation of artemisinin using microbial strains