Ulosantoin, a potent insecticide from the sponge Ulosa ruetzleri

Ulosantoin (2), a phosphorylated hydantoin, has been isolated from organic soluble extracts of the sponge Ulosa ruetzleri and found to exhibit marked insecticidal activity against tobacco hornworm larvae and cockroaches. The structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. A structurally related compound, dimethyl N 2 -creatininylphosphate (1), was also isolated from the sponge extracts, but was inactive in the insecticidal screens