A new cembrane diterpene from the Bornean soft coral Nephthea sp.

A new cembrane diterpene, 6-acetoxy-7,8-epoxynephthenol acetate (1) was isolated along with a known compound, epoxynephthenol acetate (2), from the organic extract of a Bornean soft coral Nephthea sp. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and comparison with those previous literature data.

1. Introduction

Soft corals belonging to the genus Nephthea (Alcyonacea, Nephtheidae) are a rich source of sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids and steroids with diverse chemical structures and interesting biological activities [1,2,3,4]. Our previous chemical investigations on the Bornean soft coral genus Nephthea have resulted in the isolation and identification of a new sterol [5] and a new norsesquiterpenoid [6], along with several known sesquiterpenes [6]. However, to date no diterpenes have been isolated from these Bornean soft corals. In the course of our interest in the discovery of other types of secondary metabolites from this genus, we examined a specimen collected from Layangan Island (Sabah, Malaysia). The methanol extract afforded a new cembrane diterpene, 6-acetoxy-7,8-epoxynephthenol acetate (1), along with a known compound, epoxynephthenol acetate (2) [3,7,8,9] (Figure 1). This paper reports on the isolation and structure elucidation of the new compound.

Figure 1

Structures of compounds 1 and 2.

2. Results and Discussion

Compound 1 was isolated as a colorless oil. HR-MS gave a molecular formula of C24H38O5 with six degrees of unsaturation. The 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data (Table 1) revealed the presence of an acetoxy group [δC 170.3 (s), 21.2 (q); δH 2.08 (3H, s)], an acetoxyisopropyl residue [δC 170.2 (s), 85.6 (s), 23.2 (q), 23.2 (q), 22.6 (q); δH 1.97 (3H, s), 1.46 (3H, s), 1.44 (3H, s)], an oxymethine [δC 71.4 (d); δH 4.91 (1H, ddd, J = 8.0, 7.5, 3.0 Hz)], a trisubstituted epoxide [δC 63.3 (d), 61.2 (s); δH 3.04 (1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz)], two trisubstituted double bonds [δC 135.0 (s), 130.3 (d), 128.1 (s), 125.1 (d); δH 5.49 (1H, dd, J = 7.4, 7.4 Hz), 5.13 (1H, dd, J = 7.0, 7.0 Hz)], and three tertiary methyls [δC 17.4 (q), 17.1 (q), 15.0 (q); δH 1.71 (3H, s), 1.56 (3H, s), 1.37 (3H, s)].

Table 1

1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data of compound 1 (recorded at 600/150 MHz in CDCl3; δ in ppm, J in Hz).

Position	13C	1H (J in Hz)
1	45.4 (CH)	1.78 (m, 1H)
2	28.9 (CH2)	2.25 (m, 1H); 1.83 (ddd, J = 14.3, 7.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H)
3	130.3 (CH)	5.49 (dd, J = 7.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H)
4	128.1 (C)
5	42.1 (CH2)	2.56 (dd, J = 14.4, 7.5 Hz, 1H); 2.29 (dd, J = 14.4, 3.0 Hz, 1H)
6	71.4 (CH)	4.91 (ddd, J = 8.0, 7.5, 3.0 Hz, 1H)
7	63.3 (CH)	3.04 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H)
8	61.2 (C)
9	38.3 (CH2)	2.04 (ddd, J = 13.4, 6.5, 3.0 Hz, 1H); 1.31 (ddd, J = 13.4, 13.4, 3.0 Hz, 1H)
10	23.6 (CH2)	2.24 (m, 1H); 1.98 (m, 1H)
11	125.1 (CH)	5.13 (dd, J = 7.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H)
12	135.0 (C)
13	36.6 (CH2)	2.18 (dd, J = 11.2, 4.1 Hz, 1H); 2.14 (m, 1H)
14	28.5 (CH2)	1.74 (m, 1H); 1.27 (m, 1H)
15	85.6 (C)
16	23.2 (CH3)	1.46 (s, 3H)
17	23.2 (CH3)	1.44 (s, 3H)
18	17.1 (CH3)	1.71 (s, 3H)
19	17.4 (CH3)	1.37 (s, 3H)
20	15.0 (CH3)	1.56 (s, 3H)
OAc	170.3 (C)
	21.2 (CH3)	2.08 (s, 3H)
OAc	170.2 (C)
	22.6 (CH3)	1.97 (s, 3H)

In addition, the 13C-NMR spectra of 1 closely resembled those of 2 except for the presence of one additional acetoxy group. Therefore, it was suggested that compound 1 was a common 14-membered cyclic cembrane with an acetoxy, an acetoxyisopropyl and an epoxide functionalities. Assignments were performed based on 1H–1H COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra data. 1H–1H COSY experiment revealed the sequences of the correlations depicted by the bold lines in Figure 2.

Figure 2

1H-1H COSY correlations (bold lines) and key HMBC correlations (H → C) of 1.

In the HMBC experiment of 1, the attachment of the acetoxyisopropyl group to C-1 was confirmed by correlations between H-1 to C-15, H-2 to C-15, H-16 to C-1 and H-17 to C-1. HMBC correlations between H-7 to C-8, H-9 to C-7 and C-8, H-10 to C-8 and H-19 to C-7, C-8 and C-9 were key for confirming that the methyl-bearing epoxide should be placed at the 7,8 positions. The vinyl methyl group at C-4 was confirmed by HMBC correlations between H-2 to C-4, H-5 to C-3 and C-4 and H-18 to C-3, C-4 and C-5. The other vinyl methyl group at C-12 was revealed by correlations between H-10 to C-12, H-11 to C-13, H-13 to C-12 and H-20 to C-11, C-12 and C-13. In addition, the chemical shift for C-6 (δc 71.4; δH 4.91) clearly indicated that the acetoxy group was attached to the oxymethine carbon at C-6. Based on these findings, the gross structure of 1 was determined to be as shown in Figure 1.

The relative stereochemistry of compound 1 was deduced from the NOESY experiments (Figure 3), as well as the 13C-NMR chemical shifts. The 13C-NMR chemical shifts of C-18 at δC 17.1 and C-20 at δC 15.0 suggested that both double bonds had the E configurations [3,10]. Furthermore, the NOESY correlations observed between H-3/H2-5 and H-11/H2-13 also supported this deduction. The NOESY correlations between H-1/H-3, H-3/H-5β, H-3/H-7 and H-5β/H-7 showed that these protons are oriented on the same side. In addition, the NOESY correlations between H-6/H3-18, H-6/H3-19 and H-7/H-9β but lack of correlation between H-7/H3-19 indicated that H-6 and H3-19 are located on the same face of the molecule, while H-7 was located on the opposite face. This was supported by the similarities of 13C NMR data between 1 and 2, indicating the same relative configurations at C-1, C-7 and C-8. Therefore, compound 1 was identified as (3E,11E)-6,15-diacetoxy-7,8-epoxycembra-3,11-diene. Compound 2 is reported to have R configuration at C-1 [9]. A literature survey indicated that all cembrane diterpene isolated from the order Alcyonacea have 1R configuration [11]. The absolute configuration at C-1 of 1 may thus be deduced to be R from the biogenetic consideration and co-occurrence of compound 2 in the same specimen. All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against seven human pathogenic bacteria. Unfortunately, compounds 1 and 2 were inactive at 30 μg/disc.

Figure 3

Key NOESY correlations of 1.

3. Experimental

3.1. General

Optical rotations were measured on an AUTOPOL IV automatic polarimeter (Rudolph Research Analytical). 1H-NMR (600 MHz) and 13C-NMR (150 MHz) spectra were recorded with a JEOL ECA 600 instrument, with TMS as internal standard. HR-ESI-TOFMS spectrum was obtained with LCMS-IT-TOF (Shimadzu). Preparative TLC was performed with silica gel plates (Merck, Kieselgel 60 F254). Silica gel (Merck, Kieselgel 60, 70–230 mesh) was used for column chromatography. Analytical TLC was performed on Merck Kieselgel 60 F254. Spots were visualized by UV light or by spraying with a 5% phosphomolybdic acid-ethanol solution.

3.2. Biological material

The specimen of Nephthea sp. was collected from Layangan Island, Sabah (5º19’588’’N, 115º12’020’’E), on October 21, 2008. The gross morphological features of this soft coral were very similar to those of Nephthea erecta. The voucher specimen (MAR37789BOR) was deposited in the BORNEENSIS Collection of Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

3.3. Extraction and isolation

The fresh soft coral (2.10 kg wet wt) was extracted with MeOH (5 L) at room temperature for 7 days. The crude extract was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned between EtOAc and H2O. The EtOAc fraction was further partitioned with hexane and 90% MeOH. The hexane fraction (1.20 g) was chromatographed on a Si gel column using hexane and EtOAc system of increasing polarity as eluant to yield four fractions. A portion of fraction 2 (24.5 mg) eluted with hexane/EtOAc (8:2) was submitted to repeated preparative TLC with CHCl3 and toluene to yield compounds 1 (4.4 mg) and 2 (2.2 mg).

3.4. 6-Acetoxy-7,8-epoxynephthenol acetate

Colorless oil; [α]:25D –15.9 (c 0.39, CHCl3); HR-TOFMS m/z407.2778 [M+H]+ (calcd. for C24H39O5, 407.2792); 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data: see Table 1.

3.5. Epoxynephthenol acetate

Colorless oil; [α]:25D –15.5 (c 0.22, CHCl3); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ: 170.3 (s, OCOCH3), 134.8 (s, C-12), 132.0 (s, C-4), 126.6 (d, C-3), 125.2 (d, C-11), 85.7 (s, C-15), 62.3 (d, C-7), 60.0 (s, C-8), 46.0 (d, C-1), 38.7 (t, C-9), 36.5 (t, C-5), 36.4 (t, C-13), 28.9 (t, C-2), 28.6 (t, C-14), 25.4 (t, C-6), 23.5 (t, C-10), 23.4 (q, C-16), 23.2 (q, C-17), 22.7 (q, OCOCH3), 16.9 (q, C-19), 15.8 (q, C-18), 15.0 (q, C-20).

3.6. Antibacterial bioassay

The antimicrobial bioassays for the isolated compounds were carried out using seven strains of human pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli (CSV01-08), Proteus mirabilis (CSV03-08), Pseudomonas aurelis (CSV04-08), Salmonella enteridis (CSV07-08), Salmonella thyphymunium (CSV08-08), Staphylococcus aereus (CSV09-08) and Vibrio cholerae (CSV10-08). The assay was performed as previously described [12].

4. Conclusions

As a part of our chemical investigation on Bornean soft corals, a new cembrane diterpene, 6-acetoxy-7,8-epoxynephthenol acetate (1) was isolated along with the known epoxynephthenol acetate (2), from a Nephthea sp. specimen collected from Layangan Island, Sabah. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral analysis. These findings have enriched our knowledge of the chemical constituents of Bornean soft corals. The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were tested for their antibacterial activities against human pathogenic bacteria by the disc diffusion method. Although both these compounds were found to have no activity, it is believed that they could pave the way to utilize secondary metabolites as chemotaxonomic markers for soft coral genus Nephthea.