The isolation and structure elucidation of the new spirostaphylotrichins B (2), C and D (3/4), F (5), Q (6), and R (7) are described. Compounds 2 and 3 are artefacts formed during the isolation of the metabolites from the cultures. The absolute configuration of spirostaphylotrichin A (1) has been determined by CD spectroscopy.Introduction. -Spirostaphylotrichin A (1) is a secondary metabolite which has been isolated by Peter and Auden [ 11 from cultures of the fungus Staphylotrichurn coccosporum. Its structure and relative configuration were established by an X-ray analysis. The compound represents a novel structural type of natural products. In the course of our investigations on the biosynthesis of 1 [2], we have isolated six new metabolites, named

Incorporation of 14C‐labelled acetate and amino acids as well as of [1‐13C]‐, [2‐13C]‐, and [1,2‐13C2] acetate, L‐[methyl13C] methionine, [2,3‐13C2] succinate, and L‐[2,3‐13C2] aspartate into spirostaphylotrichin A (1) by Staphylotrichum coccosporum demonstrates that the building blocks of 1 are 5 units of acetate/malonate, 1 unit of methionine, and a C4‐dicarboxylic acid. The latter is most likely aspartate and derived from the citric‐acid cycle. Using [2‐13C, 2‐2H3] acetate as a precursor, the starter unit of the polyketide chain was identified.

From a mutant strain of S. coccosporum, the new spirostaphylotrichins E (2), F(3), G (4 or 5), H (5 or 4), I (6), K (7), L (8), M (9), and S (10) have been isolated. Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and MS), chemical transformations, and X‐ray analysis (3 and 7).

The isolation and structure elucidation of the new Spirostaphylotrichins N (2), O (3), P (4), and T (7) from a mutant strain of S. coccosporum are described. The biogenetic relationship of the known spirostaphylotrichins is discussed.

Orally administered deferiprone was found to effectively reduce the liver iron content in these 3 hornbills with iron storage disease. All 3 methods used to monitor the liver iron content (QIA, chemical analysis of liver biopsy samples, and MRI) had similar results, indicating that all of these methods should be considered for the diagnosis of iron storage disease and monitoring of liver iron content during treatment.