Ten new sesquiterpenes, nardosinanols A-I ( 1- 9) and lemnafricanol ( 10), have been isolated from several Kenyan soft corals, i.e., from Lemnalia sp., Paralemnalia clavata, Lemnalia africana, and Rhytisma fulvum fulvum. The structures and relative stereochemistry of these compounds were elucidated by interpretation of MS, COSY ( (1)H- (1)H correlations), HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY NMR spectroscopic experiments and in the case of 5 also by chemical transformation to compounds 11 and 12. Nine compounds ( 1- 9) are based on the nardosinane skeleton ( 1- 6 are nardosinanes and 7- 9 nornardosinanes). Lemnafricanol ( 10) possesses a novel tricyclic skeleton. Compounds 3, 7, and 10 were found to be toxic to brine shrimp with LC 50 values of 4.0, 0.35, and 0.32 microM, respectively.

Two new cembranoids, methyl tetrahydrosarcoate ( 1) and methyl tetrahydroisosarcoate ( 2), were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton elegans, collected at Kitangambwe Kenya, together with four biscembranoids, the known nyalolide ( 3) and the unprecedented desacetylnyalolide ( 4), diepoxynyalolide ( 5), and dioxanyalolide ( 6). The structures and relative stereochemistry of the compounds were elucidated by interpretation of MS, 1D NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. Compound 1 is most likely the dienophile affording, by a Diels-Alder reaction, the four biscembranoids. Dioxanyalolide ( 6) possesses antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli at a concentration of 1.25 microg/mL. Methyl tetrahydrosarcoate ( 1) and diepoxynyalolide ( 5) exhibited LC 50 values of 1.5 microM in a brine shrimp bioassay, while desacetylnyalolide ( 4) was only mildly active.

Triblock copolymers of poly(lactide)‐poly(ethylene‐glycol)‐poly(lactide) (PLA‐PEG2000‐PLA) were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of lactide and PEG2000 diol as co‐catalyst. Stereocomplexes with particle sizes ranging from nanometers to microns were obtained by mixing acetonitrile solutions of pairs of enantiomeric homopoly(lactide) and the triblock copolymers. The stereocomplexes exhibited higher crystalline melting temperatures than the optically pure polymers. The ratio of PLA terminals in the copolymers had a significant effect on their stereocomplex degradation and drug release. These stereocomplexes were used for the encapsulation of dexamethasone for controlled release applications. Dexamethasone phosphate loading capacity, in vitro release, degradation and stability of polymers and formulation were investigated for one month. An increase in the dexamethsone phosphate content in the stereocomplex or a decrease in the PLA ratio in the copolymer resulted in a faster release of drug and polymer degradation.

Three novel nitrogenous macrolides designated salarin A and B (1 and 2) and tulearin A (3) were isolated from the Madagascar Fascaplysinopsis sp. sponge. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by interpretation of MS and 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Both salarins carry an acetylcarbamate moiety, and in addition, 1 contains a triacylamine group and 2 a methoxymethylketone lactam. Tulearin A carries the naturally rare carbamate ester. The compounds were found to be toxic to brine shrimp larvae, and salarin A and tulearin A were also cytotoxic to leukemia cells.

Two closely related lipodepsipeptides, taumycins A and B (1 and 2) have been isolated from the Madagascar sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp. The two compounds have the same 12-membered oxodepsipeptide ring system in common. Both were toxic to brine shrimp larvae, and taumycin A (1 microM), but not taumycin B, inhibited growth of the human UT-7 leukemic cell line. The structure of the two compounds, likely to be derived from microorganisms, was established by MS and 1D and 2D NMR data.