Butyrolactones from Aspergillus terreus

In the process development of lovastatin using Aspergillus terreus DRCC 152 in solid state fermentation, we have isolated a new butyrolactone-IV (3) along with the previously reported butyrolactone-I (1) and butyrolactone-II (2) produced under submerged conditions. The structure of compound 3 has been characterized as 3-hydroxy-5-[2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2(R)-2,3-dihydro-benzo[b]furan- 5 ylmethyl]-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxycarbonyl-(5R)-2,5-dihydro-2 -furanone on the basis of spectroscopic studies. The absolute stereochemistry has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of these compounds were determined.