Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the elucidation of the structure of piperidine alkaloids
Piperidine heterocycles are present in the structure of many alkaloids, for example coniine in the structures of lobelia, cocaine alkaloids and sedum alkaloids, Sedum alkaloids are 2,6-disubstituted derivatives of piperidine or N-methylpiperidine. Extracts obtained from Sedum acre L. were investigated for the presence of alkaloids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Identification has been carried out on the basis of retention time, molecular ion mass and characteristic fragmentation. Investigated extracts contained unknown alkaloids which belong to the piperidine group of sedum alkaloids. Mass spectral fragmentation patterns and a proposed structure for the unknown alkaloids are discussed.