Agnatasterone A and B,Unusual Pregnane Steroids Isolated from the North-East Atlantic Sponge Axinella agnata

Two novel pregnatrienolones isolated in very small amounts from the North-East-Atlantic demosponge Axinella agnata (Tetractinomorpha, Axinellida) are unique in having C(2)?C(3) (or C(3)?C(4)), C(7)?C(8), and C(16)?C(17) bonds and a 12β-OH group which, being strongly H-bonded to a 20-keto group, resists acylation. ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy of the steroids and of products of their selective epoxidation or reduction allow us to propose the structures (+)-12β-hydroxy-5α-pregna-2,7,16-trien-20-one ( = agnatasterone A, (+)- 1 ), and (+)-12β-hydroxy-5α-pregna-3,7,16-trien-20-one ( = agnatasterone B. (+)- 5 ), for the two steroids with minimal recourse to model compounds.