Atromentic acid is a red-organge pigment found in

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

within the

Boletales The Boletales are an order of Agaricomycetes containing over 1300 species with a diverse array of fruiting body types. The boletes are the best known members of this group, and until recently, the Boletales were thought to only contain boletes. T ...

group. It is the precursor to

variegatic acid Variegatic acid (3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxypulvinic acid) is an orange pigment found in some mushrooms. It is responsible for the bluing reaction seen in many bolete mushrooms when they are injured. When mushroom tissue containing variegatic acid is e ...

and

xerocomic acid Xerocomic acid is a red-orange pigment found in fungi of the order ''Boletales'' (and is named after the genus '' Xerocomus''). It is the precursor to variegatic acid, and is preceded by atromentic acid and atromentin. As an example, it is isolate ...

, and is preceded by

atromentin Atromentin is a natural chemical compound found in Agaricomycetes fungi in the orders Agaricales and Thelephorales. It can also be prepared by laboratory synthesis. Chemically, it is a polyphenol and a benzoquinone. Occurrences Atromentin has ...

. As an example, it is isolated from ''

Serpula lacrymans ''Serpula lacrymans'' is one of the fungi that cause damage to timber referred to as dry rot. It is a basidiomycete in the order Boletales. The ''Serpula lacrymans'' has the ability to rapidly colonise sites through unique and highly specialise ...

''. It is soluble in methanol. Variants include homoatromentic acid. This pigment has been studied and elucidated by

Wolfgang Steglich Wolfgang Steglich (born 12 August 1933) is a German chemist . Life Wolfgang Steglich was born in Kamenz and studied chemistry at the Technical University of Berlin and later at the Technical University of Munich where he received his PhD in 19 ...

and colleagues over decades. When atromentin is oxidised with hydrogen peroxide a yellow product is produced. A sodium hydroxide solution is also yellow, but when this is neutralized with acid the red atromentic acid crystallises. Concentrated potassium hydroxide breaks up the compound to

p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid is a chemical compound found in olive oil and beer. Synthesis 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid is obtained by reducing 4-hydroxymandelic acid with elemental phosphorus and iodine. Uses In industry, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic ...

and

oxalic acid Oxalic acid is an organic acid with the systematic name ethanedioic acid and formula . It is the simplest dicarboxylic acid. It is a white crystalline solid that forms a colorless solution in water. Its name comes from the fact that early inve ...

References

{{Reflist, refs= Gill, M., and Steglich, W. (1987) Pigments of fungi (Macromycetes). Prog Chem Org Nat Prod 51: 1–317. Carboxylic acids Triols Furanones Phenols Heterocyclic compounds with 3 rings