What is "acylfulvene"

n. (context organic chemistry English) Any acyl derivative of a fulvene

Acylfulvene is a class of cytotoxic semi-synthetic derivatives of illudin, a natural product that can be extracted from the jack o'lantern mushroom ( Omphalotus olearius). One important acylfulvene, 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene ( irofulven), has been evaluated for the treatment of a wide assortment of cancers and tumors. It is thought that acylfulvene compounds kill cancer cells by DNA alkylation (see DNA methylation).