Biosynthesis of Lycopodium Alkaloids

Abstract

<p>An investigation of the biosynthesis of lycopodine, the major alkaloid of Lycopodium tristachyum, has revealed that L-lysine, but not D-lysine is incorporated into this alkaloid. D-lysine serves as a precursor to pipecolic acid in this species. Sodium malonate has been demonstrated to be a specific precursor to lycopodine, but attempts to verify the postulated intermediacy of piperidineacetic acid. In the elaboration of this alkaloid were unsuccessful.</p> <p>As a means of studying the postulated conversion of lycopodine to annotinine, the major alkaloid of Lycopodium annotinum, specifically labelled 9-14C-lycopodine was synthesized. However the specific incorporation into annotinine of several precursors known to be incorporated into lycopodine could not be demonstrated.</p>