The absolute configuration of halisulfate 3 (1), a metabolite of the s
ponge Ircinia sp. from the Philippines, was determined in two steps. T
he (13S) absolute configuration was derived by application of the chir
al amide method using acid 5. The (8R,9S) stereochemistry of the bicyc
lic ring system was obtained by comparison of the optical rotation of
the degradation product 8 with that of an ester 9 of known absolute co
nfiguration. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.