Isocoumarins have been isolated from a wide variety of microbial, plant and insect sources and have been shown to possess an impressive array of biological activities. Since the review by BARRY in 1963 (24), the number of known naturally occurring isocoumarins has increased dramatically. This increase is largely due to improvements in isolation procedures and structural analysis. Previous reviews have concentrated on fungal isocoumarins (293,294) and mycotoxic isocoumarins (301). This review lists over 160 naturally occurring isocoumarins. Leading references on isolation, structure elucidation, biosynthesis and synthesis are given in the accompanying Tables. The known natural isocoumarins are listed in the Tables according to the number and orientation of oxygen atoms on the benzenoid ring and by carbon substituents. For completeness, those isocoumarins bearing additional fused carbocyclic rings and those containing nitro gen substituents are included in separate Tables. It is hoped that by using these Tables in conjunction with the Formula Index, the Trivial Name Index and the Source Index the reader will be able to locate key references in the literature and gain an understanding of the fascin ating chemistry and action of naturally occurring isocoumarins.
Authors, Editors and Affiliations
Department of Chemistry, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
W. Herz
Biologisches Institut II, Lehrstuhl für Biochemie der Pflanzen, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg i. Br., Federal Republic of Germany
H. Grisebach
Chemistry Department, The University, Glasgow, Scotland
G. W. Kirby
Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Ch. Tamm
Chemistry Department, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
R. A. Hill
Chemisches Institut, Tierärztlichen Hochschule Hannover, Hannover 1, Federal Republic of Germany
H. Chr. Krebs
Center for Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
R. Verpoorte,
R. Wijnsma
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Fortschritte der Chemie organischer Naturstoffe / Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products
Authors: R. A. Hill, H. Chr. Krebs, R. Verpoorte, R. Wijnsma
Editors: W. Herz, H. Grisebach, G. W. Kirby, Ch. Tamm