Two guaiane-based sesquiterpenes from a Sinularia sp. soft coral

Investigation of a Sinularia sp. of soft coral has led to the identification of two known guaiane-based sesquiterpenes by evaluation of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. The compounds are easily related either by biosynthetic dehydration across a methyl group and a tertiary alcoholic carbon in the diol or addition of water at the exo-methylene group in the alcohol. The allied compounds have never been reported from a Sinularia species. The diol was previously isolated from Lemnalia africana while the alcohol was reported from Nephthea chabrolli. As such, this is also the first reported co-occurrence of the two compounds in a single coral