Phenol oxidation and biosynthesis. Part XIX. On the role of quaternary metho-salts in alkaloid biosynthesis

Abstract

The incorporation of tritiated (+)-tembetarine chloride (reticuline methochloride) into sinomenine (in Sinomenium acutum) and into protopine (in Dicentra spectabilis) has been determined. By comparison with (+)-reticuline, an established intermediate in the biosynthesis of sinomenine and of protopine, (+)-tembetarine is an inefficient precursor.