Studies on the Structure of Lycopodine

Abstract

The ring opened in the formation of α-cyanobromolycopodine has been found to be six-membered or larger. The product of hydrogenation of β-cyanobromolycopodine in alkaline medium has been shown to be the cyclized compound, C17H24ON2, not β-cyanolycopodine, C17H26ON2, as thought previously. A study was made of the β-cyclized compound but it could not be ascertained whether it has a ketone or an enol-ether structure. The possibility of a β-piperidone structure for lycopodine is discussed