DEOXYSCYTALIDIN AND LIGNICOL - NEW METABOLITES FROM SCYTALIDIUM SPECIES

As part of a chemosystematic study of the genus Scytalidium, several s trains belonging to the closely related species Scytalidium album, Scy talidium lignicola, Scytalidium aurantiacum, and Scytalidium circinatu m have been grown in liquid shake culture. The various strains examine d did not show a consistent pattern of metabolites. Scytalidin [1), th e major metabolite of Sc. album, was produced by two of three tested s trains but not demonstrated by any strain of Sc. lignicola, Sc. aurant iacum, or Sc. circinatum. The scytalidin-producing strains also produc ed a closely related but undescribed metabolite, deoxyscytalidin [2]. One strain of Sc. lignicola produced a new compound which we call lign icol [3]. Other strains of Sc. lignicola produced small amounts of one or more other metabolites including scytalone (3,6,8-trihydroxytetral one). Sc. circinatum produced only 4,8-dihydroxytetralone.