Inmaculada Brito

Caminatal, an aldehyde sesterterpene with a novel carbon skeleton from the Antarctic sponge Suberites caminatus

A new sesterterpene, caminatal 1, containing a bicyclic terpenoid moiety with an aldehyde appendage in combination with an isolated isoprenic aromatic ring leading to a novel carbon skeleton has been obtained from the Antarctic sponge Suberites caminatus. Its structure and relative stereochemistry were established by spectroscopic evidence and biogenetic considerations.

Bromocyclococanol, a halogenated sesquiterpene with a novel carbon skeleton from the red alga Laurencia obtusa

A bromo sesquiterpene, bromocyclococanol 1, containing fused cyclopropane–cyclopentane rings leading a novel carbon skeleton has been isolated from the red alga Laurencia obtusa. The structure and stereochemistry were established by spectroscopic evidence and biogenetic considerations. A biogenetic route for this compound has also been proposed

Dactylomelatriol, a biogenetically intriguing omphalane-derived marine sesquiterpene.

Dactylomelatriol (1), obtained from the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela, is the first naturally occurring omphalane-derived sesquiterpene from the marine environment. From this species the known chamigrene and modified bisabolene sesquiterpenes 2-6 were also isolated. The structure and relative configuration of 1 were established by spectroscopic evidence. Its chemical structure is related to omphalic acid, the unique terrestrial-derived omphalane sesquiterpene isolated from a liverwort. A biogenetic route for this compound is proposed. The antimicrobial activities of compounds 1-6 were evaluated against a panel of microorganisms.