SEVERAL COMPOUNDS FROM PALYTHOA-TUBERCULOSA (COELENTERATA)

The isolation and structural studies of palytoxin, C145H264N4O78, a potent coelenterate toxin, are reported. Although palytoxin has not been obtained up to now in crystalline form, the nature of the chromophoric portions giving rise to the λmaxat 233 nm and 263 nm has been elucidated by spectral and chemical studies of the fragments resulting from NaIO4 oxidation. The structure of the ninhydrin-positive moiety is also discussed. During the course of our studies on the toxins of Palythoa tuberculosa we have isolated four compounds, characterized by their absorption maxima at 310, 320, 332 and 360 nm, respectively. The structures of these compounds, together with that of a 334 nm absorbing compound isolated from Porphyra species, have been fully elucidated. © IUPAC