Isolation and structure of red pigment from Aspergillus ochraceus Wilh.

A red pigment which was isolated from cultures of A. ochraceus WILH. IFM 4443 gave neoaspergillic acid (II) and ferric hydroxide by hydrolysis. The mass spectrum of this pigment suggested that three molecules of neoaspergillic acid and one atom of iron made the pigment. β-Hydroxyneoaspergillic acid (V) was also obtained from the same fungus. Its structure was deduced by its spectral evidence and by reduction to deoxy-β-hydroxy-neoaspergillic acid (IV).