Sinulochmodins A-C, three novel terpenoids from the soft coral Sinularia lochmodes.

An unprecedented C,C-linked dimeric norcembranoid (sinulochmodin A, 1), a novel isocembranoid (sinulochmodin B, 2), and a novel yonarane norditerpenoid (sinulochmodin C, 3) were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia lochmodes. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and on the basis of the absolute structures of two related norditerpenoids (4 and 5), which were determined for the first time by a modified Mosher method. A plausible pathway for the biosynthesis of 1 and 3-5 from 2 was postulated. [structure: see text]