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organic compounds
The title compound, C16H20O5, was isolated from the gorgonian coral P. americana found in the Caribbean zone of the West Indies. The compound belongs to a well known family of sesquiterpenoid lactones. Its structure features a guaiane skeleton incorporating three types of oxygen functionalities. Thus, the five O atoms that are incorporated in the skeleton form two epoxy groups, a lactone moiety and an ether link. This study assigns the relative stereochemistry at the six chiral centers as 1R,2R,4S,5S,8R,10S.