Plants can generate structural diversity by enzymatic rearrangement of a central intermediate. 19E-geissoschizine is one such chemically versatile intermediate that plays a central role in the biosynthesis of monoterpene indole alkaloids such as strychnine, ibogaine, and vinblastine. Here we report how 19E-geissoschizine undergoes oxidative transformations to generate four distinct alkaloid...
(-)-Ibogaine and (-)-voacangine are plant derived psychoactives that show promise as treatments for opioid addiction. However, these compounds are produced by hard to source plants, making these chemicals difficult for broad-scale use. Here we report the complete biosynthesis of (-)-voacangine, and de-esterified voacangine, which is converted to (-)-ibogaine by heating, enabling biocatalytic...
Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are a large (∼3000 members) and structurally diverse class of metabolites restricted to a limited number of plant families in the order Gentianales. Tabernanthe iboga or iboga (Apocynaceae) is native to western equatorial Africa and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Howard Lotsof is credited with bringing iboga to the attention of Western...