Chapter 18 Amines and Amides 18.3 Heterocyclic Amines and Alkaloids

Heterocyclic Amines A heterocyclic amine is a cyclic organic compound has a five- or six-atom ring contains one or more nitrogen atoms

Learning Check Identify the following heterocyclic amines: A. B. C.

Solution Identify the following heterocyclic amines: A. B. C. Piperidine Pyrrolidine Pyrrole

Alkaloids Alkaloids are physiologically active nitrogen-containing compounds produced by plants used as stimulants, anesthetics, and antidepressants often habit forming

Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system is found in coffee beans, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks contains an imidazole ring

Nicotine Nicotine increases the adrenaline level in the blood causes addiction to tobacco contains a pyrrolidine ring

Alkaloids Related to Morphine such as morphine and codeine are produced by the poppy

Alkaloids Related to Morphine (continued) have been used for centuries as painkillers such as heroin and codeine are modifications of morphine

Pharmacology An area of research in pharmacology is to design drugs such as procaine, lidocaine, and Demerol that retain some of the characteristics of alkaloids is to modify the structures of cocaine and morphine to produce anesthesia but without the addictive side effects

Pharmacology (continued)

Learning Check Identify the heterocyclic amine in serotonin.

Solution The heterocyclic amine in serotonin is pyrrole.