Structure and synthesis of a new indole alkaloid, 19(S)-hydroxy-Nb-methylraumacline, obtained by the biotransformation of ajmaline in plant cell cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina benth

Abstract From the plant cell suspension cultures of Tauwolfia serpentina Benth ., which were cultivated in the alkaloid-production medium after feeding of ajmaline (1) , a new indole alkaloid 19- ( S )-hydroxy- N b -methylraumacline ( 4 ) was isolated. The structure of 4 first elucidated by spectroscopic analysis was determined by the chemical synthesis from ajmaline ( 1 ).