Aspidospermidine is an
alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...
isolated from plants in the genus ''
Aspidosperma
''Aspidosperma'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1824. It is native to South America, Central America, southern Mexico, and the West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North A ...
''.
It has been a popular target for
total synthesis
Total synthesis is the complete chemical synthesis of a complex molecule, often a natural product, from simple, commercially-available precursors. It usually refers to a process not involving the aid of biological processes, which distinguishes ...
,
due in part to the fact that it provides a good showcase for synthetic strategies but also because the structure is similar to many other important bioactive molecules.
References
Alkaloids found in Apocynaceae
Indolizidines
{{alkaloid-stub