Glucosylation of benzyl alcohols by the cultured suspension cells of Nicotiana tabacum and Catharanthus roseus

The cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum (white cells) converted regioselectively exogenous 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohols into corresponding hydroxybenzyl-β- d-glucopyranoside. ( RS)-1-Phenylethanol having chiral center in its substituent was also glucosylated to give 1-phenylethyl-β- d-glucopyranoside by the cultured cells of N. tabacum (white and green cells) and Catharanthus roseus. The glucosylation with the green cells of N. tabacum occurred enantioselectively to give the glucoside of ( S)-alcohol preferentially, while the glucosylation with the white cells of N. tabacum and the C. roseus cells gave preferentially the glucoside of ( R)-alcohol.