Npc164516

DescriptionTropinone (8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-3-one)(7) is the simplest plant tropane and is the first intermediate in the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. Studies have called 4-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid as an intermediate metabolite in tropinone biosynthesis[1]. It is an intermediate of atropine sulfate and is used in the synthesis of atropine. Atropine is an anticholinergic drug. It acts as an M-blocker and is indicated for the relief of visceral colic.

UsesTropinone is an oxidative product of Tropane, used to synthesize Morphine and Tropane alkaloids.

PreparationThe first synthesis of tropinone was by Richard Willstätter in 1901. It started from the seemingly related cycloheptanone, but required many steps and had an overall yield of only 0.75%.Willstätter had previously synthesized cocaine from tropinone, in what was the first synthesis and elucidation of the structure of cocaine. The 1917 synthesis by Robinson is considered a legend in total synthesis due to its simplicity and biomimetic approach. Tropinone is a bicyclic molecule, but the reactants used in its preparation are fairly simple: succinaldehyde, methyl amine and acetone dicarboxylic acid (or even acetone). The synthesis is a good example of a biomimetic reaction or biogenetic-type synthesis because biosynthesis makes use of the same building blocks. It also demonstrates a tandem reaction in a one-pot synthesis. Furthermore the yield of the synthesis was 17% and with subsequent improvements exceeded 90%.