Formyleleganolone and bibifuran, two metabolites from the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata

Two new diterpenoids formyleleganolone (1) and bibifuran (2) were isolated from a sample of the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata collected near Roscoff (Brittany, France). The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric (ESI and EI) analyses. Formyleleganolone (1) is derived from eleganolone (4) by formylation of the hydroxy group. Bibifuran (2) has been identified as a new furan derivative of 4. Additionally, the diterpenoid 16-hydroxygeranylgeraniol (3) is reported for the first time from this species. (C) 2012 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.