Verticillane-Type Diterpenoids and an Eudesnianolide-Type Sesquiterpene from the Formosan Soft Coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata

Four new diterpertes, cespihypotins W-Z (1-4) having the verticillane skeleton and characterized by all alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-hydroxycyclopentano moiety, and a new eudesmanolide-type sesquiterpene, cespilactam A (5), containing an alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactam residue, were isolated from the AcOEt-soluble fraction of the Taiwanese soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata. The structure and relative configuration of these metabolites was elucidated through extensive interpretation of MS, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments and by comparison of their NMR data with those of related compounds.