Paesslerins A and B: Novel Tricyclic Sesquiterpenoids from the Soft Coral <i>Alcyonium </i><i>p</i><i>aessleri</i>

Abstract

[structure: see text] In the course of our search of new bioactive metabolites from marine invertebrates, paesslerins A and B, sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented tricyclic skeleton, were isolated from the subAntarctic soft coral Alcyonium paessleri collected at a depth of 200 m near the South Georgia islands, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. These compounds show moderate cytotoxicity in preliminary assays.