The cell extract of a cultured terrestrial Nostoc sp. (UIC 10062), obtained from a sample collected at Grand Mere State Park in Michigan, displayed antiproliferative activity against the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the cell extract, combined with LC-MS analysis, led to the isolation of two cyclophanes, named merocyclophanes A and B (1 and 2). Their structures were determined by various spectroscopic techniques including HRESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR analyses. The stereoconfiguration was assigned on the basis of X-ray crystallographic and CD analyses. The structures of merocyclophanes A and B (1 and 2) established a hitherto unknown [7.7]paracyclophane skeleton in nature, as characterized by α-branched methyls at C-1/14. Merocyclophanes A and B (1 and 2) displayed antiproliferative activity against the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line with IC₅₀ values of 3.3 and 1.7 μM, respectively.
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