Process for preparing 9.alpha.-OH BN alcohol

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The microorganisms which can be used to produce the compounds of the subject invention are the same as disclosed in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,029,549.
The microorganism specifically exemplified is Mycobacterium fortuitum, NRRL B-8119.
A subculture of this microorganism is freely available from the depository at the Northern Regional Research Laboratory, U.
S.
Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois, U.
S.
A.
, by request made thereto.
It should be understood that the availability of the culture does not constitute a license to practice the subject invention in derogation of patent rights granted with the subject instrument by governmental action.
The transformation process of the subject invention is also as disclosed in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,029,549.
Also, the procedure for the preparation of Mycobacterium fortuitum NRRL B-8119 is as disclosed in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,029,549.
This process can also be used to prepare mutants of other genera of microorganisms as disclosed in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,029,549 and herein.
The isolation of the products of the subject invention from the fermentation broth is accomplished by first removing the major products of the sterol conversions, i.
e.
, 9.
alpha.
-OH AD and 9.
alpha.
-OH BN acid.
These major products are recovered from the fermentation beer by first extracting the fermentation beer with a water-immiscible organic solvent for steroids.
Suitable solvents are methylene chloride (preferred), chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene chloride, trichloroethylene, ether, amyl acetate, benzene and the like.
Alternatively, the fermentation liquor and cells can be first separated by conventional methods, e.
g.
, filtration or centrifugation, and then separately extracted with suitable solvents.
The cells can be extracted with either water-miscible or water-immiscible solvents.
The fermentation liquor, freed of cells, can be extracted with water-immiscible solvents.
The extract from the fermentation beer is dried.
The resulting solids are taken up in chloroform and sufficient methanol is added to precipitate residual sterols which are then filtered off