Isolation, Structure, and Synthesis of Lenthionine and Its Analogs.1,1)

Abstract

Lenthionine, an odorous substance, has been isolated from Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing and the structure was established as 1,2,3,5,6-pentathiepane (I). 1,2,4,6-Tetrathiepane (II) and 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexathiepane (III) were also isolated from the mushroom in minor quantities. All these cyclic methylene polysulfides were synthesized from simple starting materials. A precursor of lenthionine was isolated in crystalline form and the structure was deduced mainly on the basis of mass spectral studies. A possible mechanism for the formation of lenthionine and its analogs from the precursor was proposed. © 1967, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.