Unclassified Alkaloids and Other Substances

Several substances have been detected in the course of Amarylli-daceae alkaloid isolations which cannot be classified within any of the previous sections. Of these, belladine and 0-methylnorbelladine are basic substances of singular importance in the biosynthesis of the alkaloids of the family. Further discussion of these bases is reserved for Section X. Hordenine has been isolated from Pancratium maritimum (3) and Ungernia victoris (61). It appears to be a metabolite of tyrosine, an important amino acid percursor of the alkaloids of the family. Ismine, C15H15NO3 (mp 99.5°-100.5° [a]p +0° in CHCI3 picrate, mp 158°-159°), has been isolated from an unidentified Ismene spp., Crinum powellii, and Sprekelia formosissima in minute amounts (6). 

The substance contains an iV-methyl group, two active hydrogen atoms, and an aromatic methylenedioxj phenyl group. No methoxyl groups were found. Acetylation provided a neutral 0,iV -diacetate (A iax 1735 and 1650 cm i). Ismine condensed with p-nitrobenzenediazonium chloride to form a red dye, and it was suspected that the substance was represented by CCIII. Treatment of ismine (CCIII) first with acid and then 

Two neutral substances, narciclasine and narciprimine, have been isolated from Narcissus incomparabilis. The former, C14H13NO7 (mp 232°-234° decomp.) has strong antimitotic activity. It contains four 

Physical Constants of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids of Undetermined Structdee and Their Pboddcts of 

Compound Formula Melting point (°C) [aln (solvent) Functional groups ReferenC  

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