Biochemical Studies of “Bakanae” Fungus

Abstract

In the previous papers1)2)3) of this series the authors reported that the nucleus of gibberic acid, C17H21•CO•COOH, must be fluorene (I) and also assumed that the, side chains of gibberic acid might be attached to the 4th and 5th carbons of fluorene nucleus and the nucleus would be hydrated partially. By treating gibberic acid with manganese dioxide, an acid, m. p. 191~192°, is obtained as prisms. This acid is identified as hemimellieic acid (II) by the mixed m. p. with the authentic compound which is prepared from acenaphthene (III) by oxidizing with potassium permanga nate. This fact that hemimellieic acid has beenob-ained from gibberic acid endorse cha. one of the positions of side chains attched to the mother nucleus must be the 5 th carbon atom of fluorene and the mother nucleus of gibberic acid i.e. fluorene must have one benzene ring and one partially hydrated benzene ring. © 1951, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.