Chemical synthesis and antifouling activity of monoterpene–furan hybrid molecules

Geraniol, a monoterpene, and furan are structural motifs that exhibit antifouling activity. In this study, monoterpene-furan hybrid molecules with potentially enhanced antifouling activity were designed and synthesized. The nine synthetic hybrids showed antifouling activity against the cypris larvae of the barnacle Balanus (Amphibalanus) amphitrite with EC50 values of 1.65-4.70 mu g mL(-1). This activity is higher than that of geraniol and the reference furan compound. This hybridization approach to increase antifouling activity is useful and can also be extended to other active structural units