The relationship between thin-layer chromatographic behaviour and the stereochemistry of some heteroyohimbine alkaloids

Abstract

ANUMBER of thin-layer chromatography systems have been used to distinguish and identify some indole and oxindole alkaloids isolated from various species of the genus Mitragyna (Shellard & Phillipson, 1964). It has been suggested moreover that a relationship exists between the stereochemistry of these alkaloids and their behaviour on thin-layer chromatograms (Phillipson & Shellard, 1966). Two new heteroyohimbine alkaloids, mitrajavine and hirsutine, have recently been isolated from Mitragyna species (Shellard, Beckett, Tantivatana, Phillipson & Lee, 1966) and their behaviour on thin-layers has been compared with some related alkaloids of known stereochemistry. Based on this, certain suggestions have been made about the stereochemistry of these two new alkaloids.