Two new sesterterpenes, designated variecolol (2) and variecolactone (3), were isolated from the mycelium of Emericella purpurea, along with a sesterterpene, variecolin (1), which was recently isolated from Emericella variecolor as an angiotensin II receptor binding inhibitor, and an indoloditerpene, emindole PA. The structures of 2 and 3 were confirmed by spectroscopic investigation and chemical correlation with 1, and the direct X-ray analysis of 3, respectively.During a search for fungal indoloditerpenes, three components, one with a reddish coloration and the other two bluish when sprayed with modified Ehrlich's reagent, 1 were detected on TLC of a mycelial CH 2 Cl 2 extract of Emericella purpurea Samson & Mouchacca (Eurotiaceae) (IFO 30849). The former compound was an indoloditerpene, emindole PA, 2 whereas one of the other compounds was identical with variecolin (1), a sesterterpene recently isolated from E. variecolor Berkeley & Broome and shown to be an angiotensin II receptor binding inhibitor. 3 The third compound was a new sesterterpene designated variecolol (2). Further purification of the extract using lowpressure liquid chromatography (LPLC) yielded another new sesteterpene, designated variecolactone (3), having an orange coloration on spraying with modified Ehrlich's reagent. 1 We now report the structure determination of 2 and 3.The molecular formulas of variecolol (2) and variecolactone (3) were determined by HREIMS as C 25 H 38 O 2 and C 25 H 36 O 3 , respectively. The 1 H NMR signals of 2 were similar to those of variecolin (1), except for the appearance of two signals (δ 4.45 and 4.62) instead of the aldehyde proton at δ 9.13 in 1. The signals of 3 were also similar to those of 1, except for the absence of the aldehyde proton in 1. The vinylic proton signal at δ 6.97 in 1 was shifted upfield (δ 5.44) in 2, but this proton showed almost the same chemical shift (δ 6.96) in 3. From comparison of the molecular ion peaks in EIMS of 2 and 3 with 1, it was clear that 2 and 3 had two more hydrogens and one more oxygen, respectively, than 1. Therefore, we assumed that 2 and 3 had a carbinol group and a carboxylate residue, respectively, instead of the aldehyde residue in 1.Crystals of variecolactone (3) grew as colorless plates (MeOH) suitable for X-ray single crystallographic analysis. The crystal structure of 3 was established to be as shown in Figure 1. Two molecules of 3 existed independently in an asymmetric unit. These two molecules are tightly packed by two sets of hydrogen bonding between the oxygen atoms of the lactone carbonyl and the hydroxyl groups of the hemiketal [O(3)sH-O(2a) (2.923 Å) and O(3a)sH-O(2) (2.866 Å)]. Conformations of two molecules of 3 are quite similar, including the eight-membered rings, from the comparison of the torsion angles. Bond lengths and angles are not significantly different from those expected. 4 The relative structure of variecolactone was consequently established as shown in 3.To confirm the structure of 2, 1 was treated with sodium borohydride to obtain 2. T...