Analysis of heterocycles and alkaloids

Certain structures of labile alkaloids may often be modified as a result of the various problems of extraction and purification of these plant products. 

These complex mixtures may be studied by MS/MS, utilizing the spontaneous (or collision-induced) decompositions in the field free regions. This type of study may be pursued at both the structural and assay levels, without the need for transformation of considerable prior separations of the components of the mixture. 

This type of simplification should render chimotaxonomy more accessible, since plant material may be used intact or simply extracted. 

Cooks and co-workers [241] analyzed a mixture of volatile phenolics obtained from Dolichothele uberiformis by Soxhlet extraction. Ionization method was with El (or Cl). 

The conventional El spectrum of this mixture is characterized by the presence of (a) m/z 165 and m/z 151 ions corresponding to known structures as N-methyltyramine and hordenine which are confirmed by MIKE/CAD analysis and (b) m/z 193 and m/z 225 ions of unknown origin. Those at m/z 165 and 151 (Fig. 91) could be identified as iV-methyltyramine and hordenine by the use of MIKE/CAD spectra. In addition, the m/z 193 and 225 ions are also present. 

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