Flueggeacosines A-C, Dimeric Securinine-Type Alkaloid Analogues with Neuronal Differentiation Activity from Flueggea suffruticosa.

Flueggeacosines A-C (1-3), three dimeric securinine-type alkaloid analogues with unprecedented skeletons, were isolated from Flueggea suffruticosa. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of C-3-C-15' connected dimeric securinine-type alkaloids. Compound 3 is an unprecedented heterodimer of securinine-type and benzoquinolizidine alkaloids. Biosynthetic pathways for 1-3 were proposed on the basis of the coexisting alkaloid monomers as the precursors. Compound 2 exhibited significant activity in promoting neuronal differentiation of Neuro-2a cells.