Tryptophan-derived alkaloids hydrogenation

Amines are simple compounds derived from ammonia (NH3) in which one or more hydrogen atoms is replaced by carbon. Replacement of one, two or three hydrogen atoms results in primary, secondary and tertiary amines respectively. Amino acids and alkaloids are derived from amines however, in one group of alkaloids the only nitrogen atoms occur in the amino side group attached to a benzene ring—they are not heterocyclic. Hence alkaloidal amines are often regarded as pseudo alkaloids . The precursors for alkaloidal amines are aromatic amino acids—phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. 

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