ON THE COMPOSITION OF SULFATED POLYHYDROXYSTEROIDS IN SOME OPHIUROIDSAND THE STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF 6 NEW CONSTITUENTS

Nine ophiuroid species from different geographical areas have been ana lyzed for their polar steroid content. Six new sulfated polyhydroxyste roids have been isolated, together with six known compounds of this ty pe previously reported from brittle scars. The new steroids possess C- 21 and 3 alpha- sulfate groups, which are distinctive features of the steroid sulfates of ophiuroids. Hydroxylation at C-2, C-4, and C-11 an d the presence of double bonds at C-5 are further features of the new steroids. The structures of the new compounds were solved by spectrosc opic analysis.