Simple brominated phenols in the bluegreen alga Calothrix brevissima West

Abstract

Through the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques two simple brominated phenols, 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol (lanosol) and 3,5-dibromo-p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, were identified in an axenically cultured bluegreen alga, Calothrix brevissima. The alga was grown in a mineral medium supplemented with 1% glucose and 0.075% NaBr for 3 weeks. The culture filtrate contained two tribrominated phenols, 2,3,5-tribromo-p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and 2,3,5-tribromo-p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and traces of lanosol.