Melohenines A and B, two unprecedented alkaloids from Melodinus henryi

Org Lett. 2009 Nov 5;11(21):4834-7. doi: 10.1021/ol9018826.

Abstract

A phytochemical study on Melodinus henryi has led to the isolation of two novel alkaloids, melohenines A (1), a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with additional skeletal carbons arranged compactly in eight rings, and melohenine B (2), an alkaloid with an unprecedented 6/9/6/6 tetracyclic ring system regarded as a key intermediate from indole to quinoline alkaloids. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods and further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apocynaceae / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / isolation & purification*
  • Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / pharmacology

Substances

  • Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids
  • melohenine A
  • melohenine B