Cactus alkaloids XXXIII: beta-phenethylamines from the Guatemalan cactus Pilosocereus maxonii.

TLC analysis of extracts of Pilosocereus maxonii (Rose) Byles and Rowley detected six identifiable alkaloids. Preparative TLC aided in the crystallization of the hydrochlorides of N-methyl-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine, N-methyl-3-methoxytyramine, and N,N-dimethyl-3-methoxytyramine. Traces of 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine (TLC and mass spectrometry), tyramine (TLC), and N-methyltyramine (TLC) were identified. While all of these compounds were isolated and/or detected previously in other cactus species, this study is the first reported crystallization of N-methyl- and N,N-dimethyl-3-methoxytyramine from a natural source.