Biosynthetic relationships of patchouli alcohol, seychellene and cycloseychellene in Pogostemon cablin

Abstract The 3 H/ 14 C isotope ratios in patchouli alcohol seychellene and cycloseychellene isolated from P. cablin that was fed with [4- 3 H 1 (4R) 14 C]MVA suggests that these three sesquiterpenes are biosynthesized from a common intermediate and they are not interconvertible within the plant system. The results reveal that a stereospecific 1,2-methyl shift takes place during the formation of seychellene and cycloseychellene in vivo .