Isolation and synthesis of tanyolides A and B, metabolites of the nudibranch Sclerodoris tanya.

The nudibranch Sclerodoris tanya, which was collected intertidally at La Jolla, contains two sesquiterpene glyceride esters, tanyolides A (4) and B (5). The structures of the tanyolides were elucidated by interpretation of spectral data. The absolute configuration of tanyolide B (5) was determined by synthesis of both enantiomers and the structure of tanyolide A (4) was also confirmed by synthesis. The tanyolides, which are located primarily in the dorsal mantle, deter feeding by two ecologically-relevant predatory fish.