Tropanes

Tropanes are a class of organic compounds that are bicyclic in nature. They are derived from the alkaloid tropane, which is a secondary metabolite found in plants of the Solanaceae family. Tropanes are characterized by a 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core structure.

Structure and Nomenclature

The core structure of tropanes is a bicyclic structure known as 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane. This structure consists of a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring, with a nitrogen atom at one of the fusion points. The numbering of the atoms in the structure follows the rules of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

Occurrence

Tropanes are found in a number of plants, particularly those in the Solanaceae family. This includes plants such as Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), and Datura stramonium (jimson weed). These plants produce tropane alkaloids as secondary metabolites, which serve to protect the plant from herbivores.

Uses

Tropanes have a number of uses in medicine due to their effects on the human body. They are used as the basis for a number of drugs, including atropine, scopolamine, and cocaine. These drugs have a variety of effects, including acting as a muscarinic antagonist, a sedative, and a stimulant, respectively.

See Also

• Alkaloid
• Organic compound
• Solanaceae

References

Tropanes Resources
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