The squalestatins, novel inhibitors of squalene synthase produced by a species of Phoma. IV. Preparation of fluorinated squalestatins by directed biosynthesis.

Feeding of fluorinated benzoic acids to fermentations of a Phoma sp. resulted in the biosynthesis of a series of novel fluorinated squalestatins. The feeding studies, isolation, structural elucidation and biological activities of these compounds are reported.