Sarcophytonolides are cembranolide diterpenes isolated from the soft corals of genus Sarcophyton. Unified total synthesis of sarcophytonolides C, E, F, G, H, and J and isosarcophytonolide D was achieved. The synthetic routes feature NaHMDS- or SmI-mediated fragment coupling, alkoxycarbonylallylation, macrolactonization, and transannular ring-closing metathesis. These total syntheses led to the absolute configurational confirmation of sarcophytonolide H, elucidation of sarcophytonolides C, E, F, and G, and revision of sarcophytonolide J and isosarcophytonolide D. We also evaluated the antifouling activity and toxicity of the synthetic sarcophytonolides H and J and their analogues as well as the cytotoxicity of the synthetic sarcophytonolides and the key synthetic intermediates.

Stereoselective and parallel total syntheses of two possible diastereomers of (+)-sarcophytonolide C have been accomplished. Macrolactonization and transannular ring-closing metathesis (RCM) were the key transformations. Detailed comparisons of their (1)H and (13)C NMR data and specific rotation with those of the natural product allowed the absolute configuration of (+)-sarcophytonolide C to be determined.