Assignment of absolute configurations of highly flexible linear diterpenes from the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata by VCD spectroscopy. 
Correct assignment of the stereogenic centers of highly flexible linear diterpenes (LDs) is challenging.  Herein we report the first application of VCD spectroscopy for the absolute configuration determination of LDs of algal origin and provide experimental and computational procedures, such as a fragmentation approach, which will facilitate the use of VCD spectroscopy for configuration assignments of LDs.