Alkaloids of Rauvolfia salicifolia GRISEB species

Abstract

From the endemic Cuban species Rauvolfia salicifolia GRISEB nine alkaloids were isolated of which the following seven had been already described: (+)-ajmalidine (I), (-)-reserpiline (II), (-)-isoreserpiline (III), (-)-isocarapanaubine (IV), (-)-ajmalicine (V), (+)-vellosimine (VI), and (+)-yohimbine (VII). The structure of (-)-raucubaine (VIII) had been previously determined by X-ray diffraction and the structure of the alkaloid (-)-raucubainine (IX) was suggested on the basis of its conversion to (-)-raucubaine (VIII). The absolute configuration of (-)-raucubaine and (-)-raucubainine was elucidated by CD spectroscopy.