Variegatic acid is a compound found in lichens that exhibits complex oxidation patterns when exposed to air. Specifically, when variegatic acid is isolated from lichens and exposed to oxygen, it undergoes oxidation reactions that result in the formation of multiple oxidation products over time, with new compounds continuing to form even after months of exposure. The step-wise oxidation of variegatic acid produces a variety of oxidized derivatives and demonstrates that lichen secondary metabolites can undergo complex chemical changes upon release from the lichen thallus.