[Oxidative destruction of the heptaene antibiotic levorin]

Levorin destruction in oxygen, argon or air at various temperature levels was studied. It was found that destruction of the antibiotic molecule was mainly due to its interaction with oxygen. As a result the heptaenic chromophore was oxidized and triene and tetraene formed. Oxidation of levorin was accompanied by splitting out of paraaminoacetophenone. Destruction of levorin in the absence of oxygen was retarded.