Halogen chemistry of the red alga Asparagopsis

Ethanol extraction of fresh Asparagopsis taxiformis and A. armata, followed by pentane partition, results in the isolation of a series of halomethanes, among them MeI, CHCl₃, and CCl₄. Under these extraction conditions, esterification readily occurs, allowing the isolation and identification of a series of polyhaloethyl acetates and acrylates. The recognition of acetone and polyhaloacetones in these extracts suggests biological halogenations occur which result in haloform reactions.