Dictyopterenes from three Japanese brown algae

Abstract

Dictyopterenes A, C′ and D′ found in sexually mature thalli of Scytosiphon lomentaria were not detected in the secretion from the female gametes of S. lomentaria and Colpomenia bullosa. Dictyopterene B [(−)-hormosirene] was secreted at a rate of 2.8 × 10 −20 mol cell −1 sec −1 as a sex pheromone from the settled female gametes of both species. Dictyopterenes B and D′ were detected from female gametes of Analipus japonicus. The absolute configurations of dictyopterene B in secretions from the female gametes were found to be (1 R,2 R) with 66–94% e.e., respectively.