Identification and total synthesis of a novel dimethylated fatty acid fromthe Caribbean sponge Calyx podatypa

The dimethylated fatty acid 9,13-dimethyltetradecanoic acid was identified for the first time in nature in the Caribbean sponge Calyx podatypa where i t occurs together with the rare 10,13-dimethyltetradecanoic acid. The chara cterization of the novel compound was accomplished using GC-MS, pyrrolidide derivatization, and a five-step total synthesis starting with 8-bromooctan oic acid. The first racemic total synthesis for the rare 10,13-dimethyltetr adecanoic acid is also described.