Sarcophytonolides E-H, cembranolides from the Hainan soft coral Sarcophyton latum.

Four new cembrane diterpenes, sarcophytonolides E-H (1-4), were isolated from the Hainan soft coral Sarcophyton latum. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic (IR, MS, 2D NMR) analysis and by comparison with related known compounds. The absolute stereochemistry of sarcophytonolide H (4) was determined by applying the modified Mosher's method.