Premium
Venom Alkaloid Chemistry of Australian Species of the Monomorium rothsteini Complex, with Particular Reference to Taxonomic Implications
Author(s) -
Jones Tappey H.,
Andersen Alan N.,
Kenny Joshua C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemistry and biodiversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1612-1880
pISSN - 1612-1872
DOI - 10.1002/cbdv.200900005
Subject(s) - chemistry , botany , alkaloid , zoology , stereochemistry , biology
A comparison of the morphology and of the venom alkaloids of the Australian Monomorium rothsteini complex was undertaken. These ants were collected in Australia from western New South Wales, northern Queensland, and northern Northern Territory. Additionally, samples from the M. sordidum complex and M. carinatum complex were examined. Thirteen previously described trans ‐2,5‐dialkylpyrrolidines were detected in these ants, along with the novel trans ‐2‐ethyl‐5‐[( Z )‐tridec‐4‐enyl]pyrrolidine ( 6 ), whose structure was confirmed by synthesis. The extent of variation and the correlation observed in the morphology and venom chemistry in M. rothsteini samples is very strongly indicative of multiple species in this complex. The presence and location of the CC bond in 6 reinforces the remarkable structural similarity of the 2‐ethylpyrrolidines in these Monomorium species to the 2‐methylpiperidines in the venoms of many Solenopsis species, and may represent convergent evolution of biosynthetic processes in different genera of solenopsidine ants.