Establishment of absolute stereostructure of falcarindiol, algicidal principle against Heterocapsa circularisquama from Notopterygii Rhizoma

Falcarindiol (1) was isolated as an algicidal principle against the harmful red tide dinoflagellate, Heterocapsa circularisquama, from Notopterygii Rhizoma through bioassay-guided separation. In order to determine the ambiguous absolute structure of this active principle, all three stereoisomers as well as falcarindiol (1) were synthesized. As a result of intensive analysis of their physicochemical properties, the configuration of 1 was revealed to be 3R,8S. On the other hand, (3S,8S)- and (3S,8R)-isomers were found to exhibit more potent algicidal activity than (3R,8S)-falcarindiol (1) isolated from Notopterygii Rhizoma. In addition, the diyne moiety of 1 was established as the crucial structural requirement for algicidal potency.