Structure and biosynthesis of the ergot pigments

In addition to the well known alkaloids, ergot contains two groups of yellow to red pigments, between which there is a close and novel biogenetic relation. The pigments are anthraquinonecarboxylic acids and dimeric hydroxanthone derivatives (ergochromes), the structures of which, including the absolute configurations at 80 centers of chirality, have been completely determined. The intermediates involved in the biosynthesis have been largely established by feeding with labeled precursors, and its course by model experiments.