Two new amphilectane-type diterpenes, 8-isocyanato-15-formamidoamphilect-11(20)-ene (1) and 8-isothiocyanato-15-formamidoamphilect-11(20)-ene (2), along with two known derivatives, 8-isocyano-15-formamidoamphilect-11(20)-ene (3) and 7-formamidoamphilect-11(20),15-diene (4), were isolated from the sponge Stylissa cf. massa. Diterpenes bearing two different isonitrile-related functionalities, as in 1-3, are rare. The coexistence of these compounds, all of which possess the identical carbon skeleton, in the same sponge specimen suggests interconversion among them. All the isolated compounds were tested for antimalarial activity. Compound 3 proved approximately 10 times more active than 1 and 2, indicating the importance of the isonitrile moiety to antimalarial activity versus the isocyanate and isothiocyanate groups, respectively. Compound 4, which contains only the formamide group, was inactive at the highest concentration tested.
© 2012 American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy