Synthesis of visoltricin and fungerin: imidazole derivatives of Fusarium sp.

The synthesis of two imidazole derivatives of Fusarium sp. is described. 3-[1-Methyl-4-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]-2(E)-propenoic acid methylester was synthesized for the first time and spectroscopic data showed differences to the reported data. Naturally occurring visoltricin proved to be identical to fungerin and the structure of visoltricin is revised.