PLAKINIDINE-D, A NEW PYRROLOACRIDINE ALKALOID FROM THE ASCIDIAN DIDEMNUM-RUBEUM

Plakinidine D (4), a new pyrroloacridine metabolite, was isolated toge ther with the known compound 3,5-diiodo-4-methoxyphenethylamine (5) fr om the ascidian Didemnum rubeum collected near the island of Rota, Nor thern Mariana Islands. Spectroscopic methods were used to determine th e structure of plakinidine D, which was also confirmed through the for mation and characterization of the derivatives N-acetylplakinidine D a nd 11-deoxyplakinidine D. Plakinidine D represents the first metabolit e in the pyrroloacridine family of compounds to be isolated from an as cidian.