A new 23,24-bishomoscalarane sesterterpene (2) was isolated from the n
orthern Adriatic sponge Cacospongia scalaris. The structure was propos
ed on the basis of spectral data. The absolute stereochemistry was det
ermined using the modified Mosher's method. Compound 2 is the first al
kylated scalarane sesterterpenoid with methylation at C-23, to have be
en identified in nature. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res
erved.