A Phytochemical Investigation of Erythroxylon australe F. Muell

Abstract

(�)-6β,7β-Dihydroxytropan-3α-yl benzoate was isolated in low yield (0.001%) from the roots of Erythroxylon australe. The aerial parts were found to contain meteloidine (0.014%), (�)-6β-hydroxytropan-3α-yl tiglate (0.001%), (+)-3α-hydroxynortropan-6β-yl tiglate (0.002%) and an unknown base (0.003%) which was tentatively identified as (+)-7- hydroxy-6-tigloyloxynortropan-3-yl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate. The configuration of the unknown base was not determined. Structures were indicated by N.M.R. and mass spectral analysis and the phenyl propionic acid moiety identified by gas chromatography.