Unusual Terpenes with Novel Carbon Skeletons from the West Indian Sea Whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae (Octocorallia)¹

From the hexane solubles of the West Indian gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae collected near San Andrés Island, Colombia, were isolated a marine diterpenoid, two nor-diterpenoids, and a bisnor-diterpenoid, all of which possess most unusual carbocyclic skeletons. The structures and relative configurations of novel metabolites elisabethins A-C (1-3) and elisabanolide (4) were elucidated by interpretation of overall spectral data, which included 2D NMR correlation methods; IR, UV, and accurate mass measurements (HREIMS); chemical reactions; and X-ray diffraction analyses. One of these, elisabethin B (2), showed significant differential antitumor activity, and compounds 3 and 4 have weak in vitro antituberculosis activity.