Culture supernatants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU5 grown in the presence of 2-aminobenzoate gave an orange-red color-reaction with Salper's reagent, suggesting the presence of an indole derivative. This production was light-dependent and inducible only with 2-aminobenzoate. Replacement of 2-aminobenzoate with other 2-substituted benzoates did not result in the formation of indole. Fumarate appeared to be the conjugating molecule with 2-aminobenzoate, resulting in the formation of an indole derivative. The purified indole derivative was orange-brown in color, with a yields 0.34 mM from 1 mM 2-aminobenzoate. Infrared analysis suggested an indole ester and (1)H NMR analysis indicated an indole carboxylate, esterified with a terpenoid alcohol. The indole ester has a mass of 441 with the molecular formula C(27)H(39)NO(4). The IUPAC name of the compound is (3 E,5 E)-14-hydroxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-3,5-tetradecadienyl 2-(hydroxymethyl)-1 H-indole-3-carboxylate; and the common name given to this compound is sphestrin.