Aspernomine (3), a new cytotoxic antiinsectan fungal metabolite with a previously undescribed ring system has been isolated from a pentane extract of the sclerotia of Aspergillus nomius. The structure of 3 was determined using NMR techniques, including COSY, NOESY, HMBC, and HMQC experiments conducted at 600 MHz.Studies of Aspergillus sclerotia as potential sources of new natural products with antiinsectan effects and other bioactivities have afforded a variety of new bioactive metabolites.2a-f Most of these compounds are indole diterpenoids (e.g., l), and several of them contain previously undescribed or rare ring systems. Our initial studiesZb of sclerotial metabolites from A. nomius Kurtzman, Horn, and Hesseltine3 led to the isolation of nominine (2), a compound exhibiting potent activity against the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (formerly Heliothis ea).^ Further studies of the pentane-soluble metabolites of an isolate of A. nomius have now afforded a unique new compound of similar biogenetic origin. This compound, which we have named aspemomhe (3), possesses a new ring system and exhibits activity against H. zea, as well as significant cytotoxicity toward three human solid tumor cell lines. Details of the isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activity of aspernomine are presented here.