THE ANTIFOULING ACTIVITY OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC PHENOLIC-ACID SULFATE ESTERS

p-(sulphooxy) Cinnamic acid was isolated as a natural product for the first time from the seagrass Zostera marina (eelgrass) and was found to prevent attachment of marine bacteria and barnacles to artificial surfaces at non-toxic concentrations. Analogous synthetic sulphate esters had similar antifouling properties, while the non-sulphated phenolic acid precursors were ineffective. The antifouling properties of phenolic acid sulphates are consistent with an emerging pattern of biological activity exhibited by other sulphate esters isolated from a variety of marine organisms, and their low toxicity offers promise for the development of environmentally benign antifouling agents to protect structures in aquatic environments.