I. SYNTHESIS OF AN ANALOG OF HALITOXIN. II. STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF IMIDAZOLE AND THIAZOLE METABOLITES FROM AN UNIDENTIFIED ASCIDIAN FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA. III. SYNTHESIS OF (4-HYDROXY-3 - METHOXYBENZOYL)THIAZOLE, AND 2-((4-HYDROXY-3 - METHOXYPHENYL)H

This dissertation is divided into four parts.; I. A synthetic route to an analog of halitoxin was explored. Starting with 9-decen-1-ol and 3-picoline, a linear synthesis consisting of seven steps gave an overall yield of 26%. Also, isolation and purification of naturally occurring halitoxin from the sponge Haliclona rubens.; II. Investigation of an ascidian (most likely Aplidium australiensis), from near Adelaide, South Australia has led to the isolation of three new compounds: 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoyl)thiazole (1), 2-...