Studies of Australian soft corals. XX. A new sesquiterpene furan from soft corals of the family Xeniidae and an examination of Clavularia inflata from north Queensland waters

Abstract

Extraction of several soft corals of the genera Cespitularia and Efflatounaria have afforded, in addition to the reported epimeric diterpene alcohols (1a) and (1b), varying amounts of three sesquiterpene furans, 'atractylon' (2), 'isofuranodiene' (3) and the new but related furan (4). Concurrent examination of Clavularia inflata indicated the presence of the same diterpene alcohol (1b), and a related tricyclic diterpene diol (9) previously reported from the same organism. Evidence is presented for a common biogenetic origin for (1a), (1b) and (9).