Oxidations of erogorgiaene in pseudopterosin biosynthesis

Pseudopterosins are potent anti-inflammatory diterpene glycosides initially isolated from the gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. In continuation of pathway elucidation studies focused on this family of terpenes, we report the isolation of 7-hydroxyerogorgiaene and 7,8-dihydroxyerogorgiaene from P. elisabethae and confirm the intermediacy of these compounds in pseudopterosin biosynthesis by in vitro incubation experiments with these metabolites in radiolabeled form.