Tropane alkaloid biosynthesis a centennial review.
Covering 1917 to 2020Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are a remarkable class of plant secondary metabolites, which are characterized by an 8-azabicyclo3.2.1octane (nortropane) ring. Members of this class, such as hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and cocaine, are well known for their long history as poisons, hallucinogens, and anaesthetic agents. Since the structure of the tropane ring system was first elucidated in 1901, organic chemists and biochemists have been interested in how these mysterious tropane alkaloids are assembled