The use of microorganisms to induce chemical modifications in organic molecules is a very useful tool in organic synthesis, to obtain biologically active substances. The fungus Cephalosporium aphidicola is known by its ability to hydroxylate several skeleton positions of many classes of organic compounds. In this work, the microbial transformation of ent-kaur-16-en-19-ol (1) by C. aphidicola, afforded two hydroxylated compounds, ent-kauran-16β,19-diol (2) and ent-kauran-16β,17,19-triol (3). Their structures were established by 1D and 2D-NMR studies. Both compounds were tested for their action on the growth of radical and shoot of Lactuca sativa.

In order to better understand the breakup contribution to fusion, we perfomed light particle coincidence measurements for the systems 6,7Li+12C,59Co at energies near and above the barrier. A three body kinematics analysis is performed with the objective of separating the contributions of different reaction mechanisms. For small angular differences between the light particles, the sequential and direct breakup seem to dominate. On the other hand, for large detector separations, a sequential decay following transfer is likely to dominate.

Fusion cross section excitation functions were measured for the 6;7Li+59Co systems (12 < Elab < 26 MeV)aiming the investigation of the effect of the breakup process on the fusion cross section. The experimental method consisted on the detection of gamma-rays from the evaporation residues. Coupled channels calculations have been performed for both systems. The comparison to the experimental results support the conclusion that there is neither supression nor enhancement at energies above the coulomb barrier. A slight enhancement at energies below the barrier is observed for the 6Li+59Co cross section over the one for 7Li+59Co. In order to better quantify the effect of the breakup process, coincidence measurements for the breakup products are being performed.

In this paper we summarize the status of the racetrack microtron that is under construction at IFUSP, showing the achievements obtained in the transport, RF, control and vacuum systems. A description of the experimental equipment that will be available to the users is also presented.

The effect of breakup in the fusion cross section in terms of suppression versus enhancement, discussed in a conflicting way in the literature, is addressed. Data and theoretical predictions available in the literature are compared. Excitation functions of the sub- and near-barrier fusion cross-sections for a wide variety of light and heavy systems are presented and interpreted. We have measured fusion excitation functions and breakup correlation functions for the medium weight systems 6Li + 59Co and 7Li + 59Co. These measurements help to establish the influence of the projectile breakup on the fusion process at near-barrier energies and contribute to the determination of how the mass of the target affects the breakup role. The results indicate a light fusion enhancement at sub-barrier energies and a geometry dominated cross section at barrier energies.