Page 38 - Academic Press Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology 3rd Organic Chemistry

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Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology EN001F-21 May 26, 2001 14:22

Alkaloids

Armin Guggisberg
Manfred Hesse
The University of Zurich

I. Alkaloids in History
II. History of Alkaloids
III. Occurrence
IV. Nomenclature
V. Extraction, Isolation, Purification,
and Analysis
VI. Structure Elucidation
VII. Classification
VIII. Biosynthesis
IX. Chemotaxonomy
X. Role

GLOSSARY Heterocyclic ring Ring in which one or more of the ring
atoms are noncarbon atoms (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen).
Chemotaxonomy (chemosystematics) System of clas- Optical activity Capacity of some (chiral) compounds
sifying plant species by their alkaloid (or other natural to rotate the plane of polarized light passing through.
product) content. In the terminology of chiral compounds, the follow-
Chromatography Method of separating the components ing symbols are used: (+), dextrorotatory, clockwise;
of a mixture by distribution between a mobile phase (−), levorotatory, counterclockwise; ( ), indeterminate
(gas or liquid) and a stationary phase (e.g., silica gel, rotation or not to be found in literature.
alumina).
Chromophore Functional group (nitro, carbon–carbon
double bond, etc.) in an organic molecule that causes ALKALOIDS are naturally occurring, nitrogen-
absorption of ultraviolet or visible light. containing organic compounds with the exception of
Configuration Spatial arrangement of atoms or groups of amino acids, peptides, pterines and derivatives, purines
atoms around a central atom. (In structural formulas, and derivatives, amino sugars, and antibiotics. Clearly,
C—H means the H is below, C—H means the H is the division of naturally occurring, nitrogen-containing
above the paper plane). substances into alkaloids and nonalkaloids is somewhat

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