Mitosemittel fuer die Landwirtschaft

摘要

The invention comprises new colchicine derivatives, C21H23O6N, m.pt. 176-8 DEG C., [a ]D25-196 DEG /sB 2 DEG (c = 1%, methanol) and C21H23O5NS, m.pt. 182-4 DEG , ([a ]D20-281 DEG /sB 2 DEG (c = 0.5%, methanol) and a process for the preparation of new colchicinic derivatives by subjecting a colchicinic compound of the general formula:- in which R1 is a hydrogen atom or the grouping OR (where R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, acyl, or glycosyl radical), R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group, R4 is an O-alkyl, S-alkyl, or S(-->O) alkyl group, or the grouping -NR5R6 (in which R5 and R6 each either represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group) to the action of a well developed culture of Streptomyces, Fusarium, Saccharomyces, Curvularia, Corynebacterium, Cunninghamella, Aspergillus or Streptococcus micro-organisms for at least 24 hours. Particularly suitable compounds include colchicine, colchiceine, 2-demethylcolchicine, N-methyldesacetylcolchicine, their tropaminones, thio derivatives thereof, the sulphoxides of thiocolchicines and their corresponding N-desacetylated, N-alkylated and N-acetylated derivatives. The process is preferably effected by introducing the colchinic derivative into a buffered aqueous suspension of a 30-72 hour culture of the microorganism at a pH between 5 and 8, isolating the new derivative by solvent extraction and purifying it by chromatography and crystallisation. The process is illustrated by detailed examples. The new compounds exhibit anti-mitotic activity and may be formulated with an inert solid or liquid carrier.ALSO:Anti-mitotic compositions for use in agriculture and horticulture comprise a colchicinic derivative prepared by subjecting a compound of the general formula:- (in which R1 is a hydrogen atom or the grouping -OR where R is an alkyl, acyl or glycosyl radical, R3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or acyl group, R1 is an O- alkyl, S- alkyl or S(-O) alkyl group, or the grouping -NR5R6, in which R5 and R6 each represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group), to the action of a microorganism from the class Streptomyces, Fusarium, Saccharomyces, Curvularia, Corynebacterium, Cunninghamella, Aspergillus, or Streptococeus, dispersed in a solid or liquid carrier.