Some investigations in the tutin series of compounds

Abstract

An amaroid is defined (45) as a non-nitrogenous bitter principle. They are a large group of naturally occurring organic compounds which resemble the alkaloids in some of their physiological actions, particularly on the central nervous system. They are commonly referred to as the "oxygen alkaloids", or more simply "bitter principles". Some of the better known compounds of the group are - Chemically, some of the amaroids seem to be related to the sesquiterpenes (27) though this cannot be regarded as a general rule. Of the above compounds, the structure of santonin has been definitely proved (47-49), while there have been formulae proposed for picrotoxinin and coriamyrtin. Tutin was once believed to be closely related to picrotoxinin in structure but this view is now rejected. The structures mentioned are -