Deoxyscytalidin and Lignicol: New Metabolites from Scytalidium Species

As part of a chemosystematic study of the genus Scytalidium, several strains belonging to the closely related species Scytalidium album, Scytalidium lignicola, Scytalidium aurantiacum, and Scytalidium circinatum have been grown in liquid shake culture. The various strains examined did not show a consistent pattern of metabolites. Scytalidin [1), the major metabolite of Sc. album, was produced by two of three tested strains but not demonstrated by any strain of Sc. lignicola, Sc. aurantiacum, or Sc. circinatum. The scytalidin-producing strains also produced a closely related but undescribed metabolite, deoxyscytalidin [2]. One strain of Sc. lignicola produced a new compound which we call lignicol [3]. Other strains of Sc. lignicola produced small amounts of one or more other metabolites including scytalone (3,6,8-trihydroxytetralone). Sc. circinatum produced only 4,8-dihydroxytetralone.