Synthesis and biological evaluation of gambierol analogues

Gambierol is a polycyclic ether toxin, isolated as a toxic constituent from the marine dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus. We describe here the synthesis and biological evaluation of structural analogues of gambierol. The present preliminary structure–activity relationship studies clearly indicate that the H ring functionality and the unsaturated side chain of gambierol are crucial for its potent toxicity.