Biogenetic precursors Biological activity

The simplest unsubstituted indole and its methyl derivative, scatol, were found in some Lepiota and Tricholoma species. The probable biogenetic precursor of all indole metabolites is the amino acid tryptophan, widely distributed in fungi, or its derivative tryptamine, found in some species of Coprinus, Inocybe, Panaeolus, Sacrodon, and Boletus (7). Investigation of a strong biological activity characteristic of an animal hormone function revealed the presence 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), which was found in large amounts in some Panaeolus and Amanita species. 

As a further extension of push-pull dipole cycloaddition chemistry, the Rh (I I)-catalyzed cycHzation/cycloaddition cascade was applied toward the hexacyclic framework of the kopsifoline alkaloids. The kopsifolines 14 are structurally intriguing compounds, related to and possibly derived from an aspidosperma-type alkaloid precursor 12. A possible biogenetic pathway to the kopsifolines from 12 could involve an intramolecular epoxide-ring opening followed by loss of H2O as shown in Scheme 4. The interesting biological activity of these compounds, combined with their... 

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