STUDIES OF HYDRANGENOL IN HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA SER.: II. BIOSYNTHESIS OF HYDRANGENOL FROM C14-LABELLED COMPOUNDS

Abstract

Hydrangenol-C14 was isolated from root tissues of Hydrangea macrophylla after the administration of L-phenylalanine-U-C14, -1-C14, and -3-C14, of cinnamic-2-C14, and of acetate-2-C14 and it was degraded by alkaline fusion. The distribution of labelling between two of the degradation products, 2,6-cresotic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, was found to be consistent with the proposed scheme for the biosynthesis of hydrangenol, namely the condensation of an intact phenylpropanoid molecule with three molecules of acetate.