A contribution to the chemistry of picrotoxin and tutin

Abstract

Picrotoxin has given its name to a series of natural products, about whose structure at present very little is known. In this group are: Picrotoxinin C15H16O6 Picrotin C15H18O7 Tutin C15H18O6 Coriamyrtin (1) C15H18O5 Mellitoxin (2) C15H18O7 and probably many others. Due to their intense bitter taste they are often called "Bitter Principles" They all have very similar physiological properties, and their chemistry, so far as it is known. implies that they have very similar structures. This group has some resemblance to other groups of lactone poisons. One of the best known is Santonin, whose structure has been determined. It is generally accepted to be: