Aspergilasines A–D: Four Merocytochalasans with New Carbon Skeletons from <i>Aspergillus flavipes</i> QCS12

Abstract

Aspergilasines A-D (1-4), four merocytochalasans with new skeletons, were isolated from the liquid culture broth of Aspergillus flavipes QCS12. Aspergilasine A (1) possesses a uniquely caged pentacyclo[7.2.0.1^4,11.0^2,7.0^5,10]dodecane skeleton with an unexpected cyclobutane ring that formed by the fusion of two epicoccine moieties via two [3 + 2] cycloadditions. Aspergilasines B-D (2-4) are key biosynthetic intermediates of epicochalasine B that fit well with our previous biosynthetic proposal.