Abstract
Tetranactin, m.p. 105-106°C, [α]23.5D 0 (c 1, chloroform), belongs to the macrotetrolide antibiotic class, as exemplified by nonactin. The molecular formula, C44H72O12, was assigned on the basis of elementary analysis and the molecular weight determined by mass spectroscopy. Tetranactin consists of four units of homononactic acid linked to form a cyclic polyester. Crystal data from X-ray photograph indicate that the tetranactin molecule is either a racemicor meso-form.
