Aspergilloxide, a novel sesterterpene epoxide from a marine-derived fungus of the genus Aspergillus

A new sesterterpene epoxide-diol, aspergilloxide (1), was isolated from the extract of a cultured marine-derived fungus (strain CNM-713) identified as an undescribed member of the genus Aspergillus. The structure of 1 was determined by interpretation of NMR data and by chemical methods. The absolute stereochemistry of aspergilloxide was assigned by application of the modified Mosher method. The carbon skeleton of 1 represents a new addition to the architectural diversity of the sesterterpenoid (C-25) class of secondary metabolites.