ALKYL GLYCEROL MONOETHERS IN THE MARINE SPONGE DESMAPSAMMA-ANCHORATA

1-O-Hexadecylglycerol (chimyl alcohol), 1-O-heptadecylglycerol and 1-O-octadecylglycerol (batyl alcohol) have been identified as the major native constituents of a mixture of free alkyl glycerol ethers isolated from the contained water and the methanolic extract of the sponge Desmapsamma anchorata. Minor components were the free C-14, C-15, C-19, C-20 and C-21 alkyl glycerol monoethers. The alkyl glycerol monoethers were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of their isopropylidene derivatives. This is the first report on the occurrence of free C-15, C-19, C-20 and C-21 alkyl glycerol monoethers in a sponge.