. J. Chem. 65, 760 (1987).The biosynthetic origin of the carbon atoms of the most highly oxidized, polyketide derived, ring (carbons 1-3) of the Gremmeniella abietina metabolites sclerodione (3), scleroderolide (4), sclerodin (5), and Scleroderris green (6) has been studied. It is shown that both C-1 and C-3 of 3 and 4 are derived from C-1 of acetate, and that C-2 of scleroderolide (4) is derived from C-2 of acetate while C-3 is derived from C-l of acetate. As expected, C-1 and C-3 of Scleroderris green (6) originate from the carboxyl carbon of acetate, while C-2 originates from the methyl carbon of acetate. Complete 13C and 'H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of these metabolites are reported. It has also been shown that ent-atrovenetin (erzt-7a) is a metabolite of G. abietina.WILLIAM A. AYER, M. SOLEDADE PEDRAS et DALE E. WARD. Can. J. Chem. 65, 760 (1987).On a Ctudit I'origine biosynthitique des atomes de carbone du cycle le plus oxydC (carbones 1-3) et dCrivC d'un polycCtide des mttabolites du Gremrneniella abietina suivants : la sclCrodione (3), le scl6rodCrolide (4), la sclerodine (5) et le vert de ScltrodCrris (6). On a d&montrC que les carbones C-1 ainsi que C-3 des composCs 3 et 4 sont derives du carbone C-l de l'acetate et que le C-2 du sclCrodtrolide (4) est dkrivC du C-2 de l'acetate alors que le C-3 est derive du C-l de I'acCtate. Comme on pouvait s'y attendre, les carbones C-1 et C-3 du vert de Scleroderris (6) ont leur origine dans le groupement carboxyle de I'acCtate alors que le C-2 provient du carbone mkthylique de I'acCtate. On rapporte les spectres de resonance magdtique nucliaire I3c et 'H complets de ces metabolites. On dkmontre aussi que le ent-atroventtine (7a-ent) est un mktabolite du G. abietina.[Traduit par la revue]We have previously reported (1-3) the isolation from Gremmeniella abietina of several metabolites, which contain a phenalenone nucleus fused to a dihydrofuran ring. Several structurally related metabolites have been isolated from other fungi.' Biosynthetic studies on metabolites of Petzicillium herquei (e.g., atrovenetin (1)) have revealed a heptaketide origin for the phenalenone nucleus, whereas the dihydrofuran ring is mevalonate derived (Scheme 1) (5). The metabolites of G. abietina are expected to have a similar biosynthetic origin. Three of the metabolites (3,4, and 5) have one carbon atom less than the parent phenalenones (e.g., 1 and 2). In principle such a degradation could involve the loss of C-1, C-2, or C-3. We have previously speculated (6) that ent-atrovenetinone (2) could be a precursor of sclerodione (3), by loss of C-2. A possible pathway from 2 to 3 is illustrated in Scheme 2. Oxidation of 3 could lead to both sclerodin (5) and scleroderolide (4) (Scheme 3). To follow the labelling pattern of 13C enriched metabolites, it was first necessary to assign the I3C chemical shifts for the metabolites. Since ent-atrovenetinone (2) is produced in small amounts, is unstable in solution (I), and since the stable ethanolate 2 a is a mixture of epimers at C-2, we were...