igi Phenols and Phenol Ethers (General) 



in more detail how such acetate-derived mold metabolites are 

 formed, and why the chain lengths seldom exceed 14 to 18 

 carbon atoms. 



The recent discovery and characterization of asterric acid, 

 a mold metabolite in which two phenolic units are joined by an 

 ether hnkage, have inspired the suggestion that the final phases 

 of its biogenetic scheme may involve a geodin-like intermediate 

 and sulochrin as follows: 



9^^^3 OH OCH3 



O I 



-^-^' 



HO— <v /^C— ^ \^CH 

 COOCH3 OH 

 Sulochrin 



OH 



COOCH3 COOH 

 Asterric Acid 



The authors believe that the known occurrence of sulochrin 

 and geodin as mold metabolites supports this argument." 



The transformation of sulochrin to dechlorogeodin, inciden- 

 tally, is an example of intramolecular phenol coupling, a phe- 

 nomenon discussed at greater length under Part b of this sec- 

 tion. 



377 Pyrogallol, C,jH,;03, colorless crystals which turn brown in air, 

 m.p. 133°. 



Penicillium patnlum 



E. W. Bassett and S. W. Tanenbaum, Biochim. et Biophys. 

 Acta 28 247 (1958). 



"R. F. Curtis, C. H. Hassall and D. W. Jones, Chem. and Ind., 

 1283 (1959). 



