The novel ring system of arbophylline suggests that a
rearrangement must have occurred from a known monoterpenoid
alkaloid precursor, which in all probability
involves cleavage of the C(5) to N(4) bond as a key step.
A possible biogenetic route to 2 is shown in Scheme 1,
from an akuammiline-type precursor such as rhazimal
(3),18–20 which was also detected as a minor alkaloid in
the plant. Cleavage of the C(5)–N(4) bond occurs via
hydrolysis of the C(5)–N(4) iminium ion 4, in turn
derived from the oxidation of 3. An amine–aldehyde
nucleophilic addition, involving attack of N(4) onto
the C(16) aldehyde carbonyl leads to the pentacyclic
hydroxy–aldehyde 5. A tandem intramolecular process
then ensues to effect the formation of the remaining
two rings. This cascade is initiated by hemiacetal formation
involving attack by the secondary alcohol function
on the aldehyde carbonyl. This is then followed by hemiacetal
OH attack on the imine function to complete the
assembly of the heptacyclic ring system of arbophylline
(2)