The absolute configuration of anti-Vibrio citrinin dimeric derivative by VCD, ECD and NMR methods

Citrinin dimeric derivatives are bioactive polyketides previously reported from Penicillium, Aspergillus and Monascus fungi species. Due to the large distance between the stereogenic centers of the two monomer units, it was difficult to determine the absolute configuration of the whole molecule (1). In previous work, the absolute configuration of 1 was just proposed by biogenetic considerations. To address this problem, the experimental VCD of 1 was compared with the corresponding DFT calculations for two diastereomers (1a and 1b). Also, the experimental ECD and NMR spectra of 1 were combined for analysis with the corresponding theoretical predictions for different diastereomers. Additionally, compound 1 showed promising anti-Vibrio activity against pathogenic Vibrio spp. with MIC values ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 μM.