5-Phenyllevulinic acid is a fungal metabolite that has been found in Cytospora.1 It is active against the bacterium B. megaterium, plant pathogenic fungus S. tritici, and alga C. fusca. 5-Phenyllevulinic acid is also an intermediate in the synthesis of sigma (σ) receptor ligands.2
1.Lu, S., Draeger, S., Schulz, B., et al.Bioactive aromatic derivatives fro endophytic fungus, Cytospora sp.Nat. Prod. Commun.6(5)661-666(2011) 2.Ketterer, C., and WÜnsch, B.Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of 2-phenylethanol derivatives and chiral oxa-pictet-spengler reaction as the key steps in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure tricyclic aminesEur. J. Org. Chem.2012(12)2428-2444(2012)