SE362898

1,233,424. Pyrrolnitrin derivatives. ELI LILLY & CO. 26 July, 1968 [27 July, 1967] No.35846/68. Heading C2A. The invention comprises derivatives of pyrrolnitrin of formula wherein R4 is NO 2 or NH 2 ; R3 is H, F, Cl, Br, CH 3 or F 3 C ; and R2 is H, F, Cl, Br, CH 3 or F 3 C when R4 is NH 2 ; and R2 is F 3 C when R4 is NO 2 . Also 3 - chloro - 4 - (21 - nitro - 31 - chloro - 41- fluorophenyl) pyrrole and 3-chloro-4-(21-nitro- 31-methylphenyl) pyrrole. Preferred compounds are 3-chloro-4-(21-amino-41-trifluoromethyl phenyl) pyrrole and 3-chloro-4-(21-nitro- 41-trifluoromethylphenyl) pyrrole. The compounds are prepared by the fermentation in a conventional nutrient medium of a pyrrolnitrin-producing strain of a species of Pseudomonas e.g. A.T.C.C. 15925 or ATCC 15926, provided that the medium contains 50-2000 mcg/ml. of a substituted tryptophane of formula wherein R1 and R2 are H, F, Cl, Br, CH 3 or F 3 C and at least one of R1 and R2 are other than H. Mixtures of the amino and the nitro pyrrolnitrin derivative may be produced. The nitro compound may be converted to the amino compound by chemical reduction e.g. catalytic. The amino compound may be converted to the nitro compound by fermentation using a pyrrolnitrin-producing strain of a species of Pseudomonas. In a specific example of the extraction procedure, the broth mixed with methanol was clarified, methanol removed, pH adjusted to 10.5 and the aqueous phase extracted by (a) toluene and (b) chloroform. The residue obtained after the removal of the chloroform was dissolved in benzene and chromatographed on silica gel. Active fractions were concentrated to dryness, the residue dissolved in chloroform and active material precipitated by the addition of n-hexane. The pyrrolnitrin derivatives have antibacterial and antifungal activity and may be incorporated in disinfectant compositions containing a carrier.