THE FORMATION OF VERATRYL CHLORIDE BY BJERKANDERA SP. STRAIN BOS55

In the ethyl acetate extract from the extracellular fluid of the mycel ium of Bjerkapldera sp. BOS55 the presence of veratryl chloride was de tected. Addition of deuterated benzoic acid or 4-hydroxybenzoic acid t o the culture resulted in the formation of deuterated veratryl chlorid e. The detection of veratryl chloride constitutes the first report of a biologically derived natural product which contains a halogenated be nzylic carbon. Since veratryl chloride is not very stable in aqueous m edium, its detection also-suggests a continuous production. (C) 1997 P ublished by Elsevier Science Ltd.