DACTYLTRONIC ACIDS FROM THE SPONGE DACTYLOSPONGIA ELEGANS

Two new cytotoxic tetronic acid derivatives with a rearranged drimane skeleton [1a and 1b], were isolated from the sponge Dactylospongin ele gans, along with smenospongic acid [3] illimaquinone [4], dactylospong enones A, B, C, and D [5], and dictyoceratin C [6]. The structures of 1a and 1b were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Treat ment of 1 with base gave smenospongic acid [3], suggesting chat this l atter compound is an end-product of D. elegans metabolism A biogenetic route from furoterpenes to the tetronic acids [1a and b] and smenospo ngic acid [3] is proposed.