Alkyl glycerol monoethers in the marine sponge Desmapsamma anchorata.

1-O-Hexadecylglycerol (chimyl alcohol), 1-O-heptadecylglycerol and 1-O-octadecylglycerol (batyl alcohol) have been identified as the major native constituents of a mixture of free alkyl glycerol ethers isolated from the contained water and the methanolic extract of the sponge Desmapsamma anchorata. Minor components were the free C14, C15, C19, C20 and C21 alkyl glycerol monoethers. The alkyl glycerol monoethers were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of their isopropylidene derivatives. This is the first report on the occurrence of free C15, C19, C20 and C21 alkyl glycerol monoethers in a sponge.