Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : The isolation of eight novel acetylated capnellenes (2,4,6,9,10,16,21 and 22) by acetone extraction of fresh colonies of C. imbricata is described. They are the major sesquiterpenes present in the living animal. The previously reported capnellene polyols, isolated by CH2Cl2 or hexane extraction of sun-dried colonies, are shown to be artifacts, produced by (a) substrate-specific hydrolase(s) present in the soft coral. The hydrolase containing fraction is also able to catalyze the transfer of acetyl groups from several alkyl acetates to the capnellene polyols. © 1985.