Synthesis of asperenone [all-trans(E)-8-methyl-13-phenyltrideca-4,6,8,10,12-pentaen-3-one], a pigment of Aspergillus species of fungi
Abstract
Syntheses of the all-trans(E)-forms of the 6-methyl (7b), 7-methyl (7a), and 8-methyl (16) isomers of 13-phenyltrideca-4,6,8,10,12-pentaen-3-one are described. Comparison with asperenone, a pigment isolated from Aspergillus niger and A. awamori establishes structure (16) for the natural product.