The structure of tautomycetin, a dialkylmaleic anhydride antibiotic.

ABSTRACT

The chemical structure of tautomycetin (C33H50O10) was determined by chemical degradation and spectroscopic evidence. Tautomycetin exists in methanol-buffer solution (1% diethylamine-formic acid, pH 7.3) as an equilibrium mixture of a 2,3-dialkylmaleic anhydride and its dicarboxylic acid. The structure of tautomycetin is similar to tautomycin in many respects.