Novel sesquiterpenes and a lactone from the Jamaican sponge Myrmekioderma styx

Two novel sesquiterpenes, styxone A (1) and styxone B (2), and a novel lactone, styxlactone (3), were isolated from the Jamaican sponge Myrmekioderma styx. Their structures were elucidated by detailed 1H, 13C and 2D NMR data and the absolute stereochemistry of styxone A and B was determined by CD spectra. Styxone A represents a novel sesquiterpene skeleton. (S)-(+)-Curcuphenol (4), (S)-(+)-curcudiol (5), and abolene (6) were also isolated. An activity enhancement by cyanthiwigin B (7) to curcuphenol was observed in the antimicrobial assays when the two compounds were administered together.