Quaternary ammonium compounds in species of the Fucaceae (Phaeophyceae) from Britain

Abstract

A study has been made of the quaternary ammonium compounds extracted from some species of Fucaceae growing in Britain. γ-Aminobutyric acid betaine was present consistently in Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus serratus, F. spiralis, F. vesiculosus and Pelvetia canaliculata. In addition, A. nodosum was found to contain δ-aminovaleric acid betaine, which was not detected in species of the other genera studied. N-(5-Aminopentyl)trimethylammonium, to which the trivial name “ascophylline” has been given, was isolated from A. nodosum and characterized, mainly from ¹H NMR and mass spectral data; this is the first record of this compound from a natural source. Some extracts of F. serratus, F. spiralis and F. vesiculosus contained glycinebetaine, laminine and ascophylline. Pelvetia canaliculata consistently yielded, in addition to γ-aminobutyric acid betaine, glycinebetaine and laminine. Ascophylline was detected in some extracts of this species.