Stephanosporin, a “Traceless” Precursor of 2-Chloro-4-nitrophenol in the GasteromyceteStephanospora caroticolor

More like an industrial fungicide than a natural product is the title compound, which occurs as the potassium salt in the carrot truffle, Stephanospora caroticolor, and is responsible for its orange color (see picture). On injury of the fruit body, 1 is transformed into the toxic 2-chloro-4-nitrophenolate (2) by loss of the side chain.