Analogs of host-specific phytotoxin produced by Helminthosporium maydis,race T: I. Synthesis

Fourteen analogs of the host-specific corn phytotoxin (T toxin) obtained from cultures of the fungal plant pathogen, Helminthosporium maydis, race T, were synthesized. Addition of difunctional Grignard reagents to aldehyde intermediates resulted in shorter versions (C₁₅–C₂₆) of native toxin (C₃₅–C₄₅), containing the β-polyketol functions which appear to account for the specificity and very high toxicity (10^?8–10^?9M) of T toxin toward certain corn varieties.