The brasilenols, rearranged sesquiterpene alcohols isolated from the marine opisthobranch aplysia brasiliana

Abstract

Abstract Two nonisoprenoid sesquiterpene alcohols, brasilenol and epibrasilenol, have been isolated, along with brasilenol acetate, from the digestive glands of the marine opisthobranch Aplysia brasiliana . The structures of these unusual sesquiterpenoids were determined by extensive spectral and chemical analysis and by their mutual conversion to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketone, brasilenone. The brasilenols are likely to have a dietary origin, since these compounds have also been observed as natural products of the red seaweed Laurencia obtusa.