The structure of the Senecio alkaloid, seneciphylline, has been formulated (4-7) as I and studies relating it to other alkaloids have been reported (7,8). Seneciphyllic acid, the necic acid derived from this alkaloid, can exist in the cis and trans configurations (9). When dilute aqueous alkali is used in the hydrolysis step (4), the cis acid (11) is formed whereas the trans isomer is produced with alcoholic potassium hydroxide. On heating with dilute hydrochloric acid, the cis acid ...
