Isolation and characterization of culmorin derivatives produced by Fusariumculmorum CMI 14764

Liquid culture fermentations of Fusariumculmorum yield a wide variety of secondary metabolites. In addition to known isoprenoids, such as the trichothecenes and modified trichothecenes, four new derivatives of culmorin have been isolated and characterized by spectral analysis. These compounds are 15-hydroxyculmorone ( 7 ), and 5-hydroxy- ( 8 ), 12-hydroxy- ( 10 ), and 15-hydroxyculmorin ( 9 ). The structure of culmorone is confirmed. The biosynthesis of culmorin from farnesyl pyrophosphate is substantiated through the use of 13 C-acetate and the oxidation of these derivatives is discussed.