The crude DCM extract of the sponge which displayed antibacterial activity was subjected to reverse phase HPLC (Phenomenex, Luna C₁₈(2)) using a gradient mixture (94:6 CH₃CN:H₂O to 100% CH₃CN over 43 min) to afford two pure compounds (4 and 5). Rest of the peaks were further separated on a PhenylHexyl column (Phenomenex, Luna, 250 × 10 mm, 5 μm) using an isocratic elution system (80:20 CH₃CN:H₂O) to yield compounds (1–3).

Compound 1, which was isolated as a colorless solid, had a molecular formula of C₂₄H₄₀O₂, deduced by HRESIMS at m/z 383.2919 [M + Na]⁺ indicating five degrees of unsaturation. The IR spectra showed absorptions at 3292 and 2150 cm⁻¹ which indicated the presence of hydroxyl and acetylene groups. The UV absorptions at 230, 241 and 253 nm indicated the presence of conjugated triple bonds. The ¹³C NMR and DEPT experiments revealed the presence of 24 carbon atoms. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra (Table 1) revealed signals due to a primary hydroxy group δ_H 4.37 (2H, s), δ_C 51.5 (CH₂), a secondary hydroxy group δ_H 4.45 (1H, t), δ_C 62.9 (CH), four sp carbons, 69.0 (C), 69.6 (C), 77.5 (C), 80.7 (C), two sp² carbons 129.9 (CH), 129.8 (CH), 5.37 (2H, t) and an isopropyl moiety. The position of the double bond was determined by examining the EIMS fragmentation pattern which indicated the presence of ion at m/z 257 [M − H₂O − C₆H₁₃]⁺ which arose from the allylic cleavage of the side chain. The spectral data indicated similarities to the previously reported strongylodiol C [15] except that compound 1 had molecular formula less by two methylene units. Thus the structure of the new compound was established as 1.

Compound 2 was obtained as colorless oil, had a molecular formula of C₂₂H₃₈O₂ as indicated by HRESIMS at m/z 357.2761 [M + Na]⁺. This suggested four degrees of unsaturation which were satisfied by two acetylene groups. The structure of compound 2 was similar to that of 1 except for the absence of double bond, and the terminal isopropyl group being replaced by a terminal methyl group at δ_H 0.88 (3H, t), δ_C 14.3 (CH₃). Thus the structure of the new compound was established as 2.

Compound 3 was isolated as colorless solid, had a molecular formula of C₂₄H₄₀O₂ as deduced by HRESIMS at m/z 383.2921 [M + Na]⁺ which indicated five degrees of unsaturation. In addition to the two triple bonds, one primary and one secondary hydroxy moieties three mutually coupled high field signals were observed in the ¹H NMR spectrum [δ_H −0.35 (1H, m), 0.55 (1H, m), δ_C 10.8 and δ_H 0.63 (2H, m), δ_C 15.8] which were diagnostic for 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropane ring. The large difference in chemical shifts of the methylene group of the cyclopropane ring indicated cis stereochemistry of the three-membered cyclopropane ring which was confirmed by comparing ¹H NMR values with reported data [16]. The position of the cyclopropane ring could not be determined as no HMBC correlations were seen from the cyclopropyl proton signals to the triple bond or to the long chain terminal methyl group which indicated that the cyclopropane moiety is present in the side chain not closer to any of the above mentioned moieties. Also due to very limited amounts of the isolated compound no chemical reactions could be carried out in order to determine the position of the cyclopropane ring. However this is the first report of isolation of cyclopropane containing long chain acetylenic alcohol.

Compounds 4 and 5 were identified as known compounds 18-hydroxyrenierin-2 [17] and strongylodiol A [15] by comparison of spectral data to the literature. Comparison of the specific rotation of compound 5 to that of the reported value indicated R configuration at C-6. By analogy the sign of specific rotation of all other compounds (1, 2 and 4) also indicate R-configuration at C-6, which could be also true for compound 3 as it belongs to the same series of compounds. The isolated compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa and M. intracellulare and the results are presented in Table 2.

Optical rotations were measured using a JASCO DIP-370 digital polarimeter. UV spectra were recorded on a Hewlett-Packard 8452A diode array spectrometer. IR spectra were recorded on an ATI Mattson Genesis series FTIR spectrometer.NMR spectra were measured on Bruker Advance DRX-400 spectrometer. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were measured and reported in ppm using CDCl₃ solvent peak (δ_H 7.24 and δ_C 77.23) as an internal standard. ESI-FTMS analyses were measured on a Bruker Magnex BioAPEX 30es ion cyclotron HR HPLC-FT spectrometer by direct injection into an electrospray interface. EIMS data was acquired on Waters VG 70–250S magnetic sector mass spectrometer. HPLC purifications were carried out on a Waters 2695 model system equipped with dual absorbance UV detector.

The sponge (ID: PN10407137) was collected from a small cave at a depth of about 40 m. The samples exuded pigment and were a crème color. They were massive in shape with a “velvet-like” feel to their surface that was somewhat brittle upon collection. This new species is currently being identified by the Porifera Tree of Life (PorToL) project. Voucher specimen of the sample was deposited at the NOAA Ocean Biotechnology Center and Repository, Oxford, MS, USA.

43.0 g of freeze-dried and finely ground sponge material was exhaustively extracted with CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (1:1) to yield 4.4 g of the crude extract after concentration under reduced pressure. The crude extract was partitioned using dichloromethane (DCM) and water. The DCM fraction was dried to give 2.37 g of the extract. The crude DCM extract was subjected to repeated reverse phased semi-preparative HPLC purification on Phenomenex, Luna, C₁₈(2), 10 μm, 250 × 21.2 mm; flow rate, 10 mL/min, using a gradient of 94:6 (CH₃CN:H₂O) to 100% CH₃CN in 43 min. Peaks 3 and 8 were pure and identified as compounds 4 (2.0 mg) and 5 (3.5 mg). Peaks 4, 5 and 11 were further subjected to reverse phase HPLC purification on Phenomenex PhenylHexyl, 5 μm, 250 × 10 mm; flow rate, 3 mL/min; detector wavelength, 195 nm using isocratic conditions, 80:20 CH₃CN:H₂O to yield compounds 1 (1.5 mg), 2 (1.0 mg) and 3 (1.2 mg).

Compound 1: Colorless solid; [α]²⁵_D: −15.5 (c 0.11,CHCl₃); UV (MeOH) λ_max (log ε) 230 (2.51) 241 (2.48) 253 nm (2.37); IR (NaCl) ν_max 3292, 2848, 2150, 1450, 1000 cm⁻¹; ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1; EIMS [M]⁺/e 360 (1.5%), 342 [M − H₂O]⁺; 2.1%, 257 [M − H₂O − C₆H₁₃]⁺; 25%; HRESIMS m/z 383.2919 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₄H₄₀O₂Na⁺ 383.2926).

Compound 2: Colorless oil; [α]²⁵_D: −17.8 (c 0.09,CHCl₃); UV (MeOH) λ_max (log ε) 231 (2.47) 241 (2.38) 251 nm (2.29); IR (NaCl) ν_max 3194, 2859, 2198 cm⁻¹; ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 357.2761 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₂H₃₈O₂Na⁺ 357.2769).

Compound 3: Colorless solid; [α]²⁵_D: −18.6 (c 0.05,CHCl₃); UV (MeOH) λ_max (log ε) 230 (2.39) 243 nm (2.26); IR (NaCl) ν_max 3292, 2848, 2150, 1450, 1000 cm⁻¹; ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 383.2921 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₄H₄₀O₂Na⁺ 383.2926).

Compound 4: [α]²⁵_D: −12.7 (c 0.12,CHCl₃); HRESIMS m/z 369.2764 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₃H₃₈O₂Na⁺ 369.2769); ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, see [16].

Compound 5: [α]²⁵_D: −9.7 (c 0.11, CHCl₃); [α]²⁵_D: −7.2 (c 1.11, CHCl₃); HRESIMS m/z 397.3875 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₅H₄₂O₂Na⁺ 397.3082); ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, see [15].

Organisms were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA, USA) which includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Mycobacterium intracellulare ATCC 23068. Susceptibility testing was performed using a modified version of the CLSI (formerly NCCLS) methods [18,19]. M. intracellulare was tested using a modified method of Franzblau et al. [20]. Samples were serially-diluted in 20% DMSO/saline and transferred in duplicate to 96 well flat bottom microplates. Microbial inocula were prepared by correcting the OD₆₃₀ of microbe suspensions in incubation broth to afford final target inocula. Ciprofloxacin (ICN Biomedicals, Aurora, OH, USA) was included as the positive control. Organisms were read at 530 nm using the Biotek Powerwave XS plate reader (Bio-Tek Instruments, Winooski, VT, USA) (P. aeruginosa) or 544ex/590em, (M. intracellulare) using the Polarstar Galaxy Plate Reader (BMG Lab Technologies, Germany) prior to and after incubation. IC₅₀’s (concentrations that afford 50% inhibition relative to controls) are calculated using XLfit 4.2 software (IDBS, Alameda, CA, USA, 2005) using fit model 201.