Herqueichrysin, a New Phenalenone Antibiotic From Penicillium Herquei

Examination of the antibiotic metabolites of Penicillium herquei BAINIER and SARTORY showed two minor components accompanying atrovenetin, the main active substance. One of these was identified as deoxyherqueinone. The other, herqueichrysin, was a new compound. Chemical and spectroscopic investigation indicated that it was a C20H20O6 phenalenone derivative related in structure to deoxyherqueinone. D.emethylation of herqueichrysin yielded a product isomeric with, but different from, atrovenetin. The similar PMR and mass spectra of the two compounds suggest that the differences lie only in the position at which the dihydrofuran ring is fused to the phenalenone. In addition to these antibiotics physcion and physcion anthranol were present in cultures of P. herquei.