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Previously unknown: gem-Dichloro-1,3-diones were unprecedented as natural compounds, but chlorotonil A (1) features this functionality in a 14-membered lactone ring. Compound 1 was isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum and its structure elucidated. The poor solubility of 1 in both organic solvents and water again raises the old question of why bacteria create such complex metabolites.
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Gerth et al. (2007) studied this question.
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