γ-Lactones from the soft corals Sarcophyton trocheliophorum and Lithophyton arboreum

Six novel fatty acid derivatives containing one gamma -lactone ring and unusual unsaturated chains were isolated from two soft corals, Sarcophyton trocheliophorum and Lithophyton arboreum, collected in the Red Sea. They were characterized by spectroscopic methods, predominantly H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, MS, IR, CD and UV. The compounds gave positive results in a brine shrimp toxicity assay. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.