On the role of Δ-piperideine and tripiperideine in the biosynthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids

Abstract

Carbon 14-labelled cadaverine, A 1-piperideine and a-tripiperideine were administered to leaf disks of Lupinuspolyphyllus in short term experiments of 12–20 h duration. Whereas cadaverine was readily incorporated into lupanine in good yields, a 7 to 60 times lower incorporation was observed for tripiperideine or Δ-piperideine. In L. arboreus the incorporation of cadaverine into sparteine was 9 times better than that of Δ-piperideine. These results indicate that Δ-piperideine and tripiperideine are not direct intermediates of lupanine or of sparteine biosynthesis. © 1988, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.