Radiolabelled peptide ergot alkaloids.

Paspalic acid ( 11 ), labelled at different positions with ³H or ¹⁴C and at specific activities up to 1 Ci/mmol (³H) and 2mCi/mmol (¹⁴C), has been prepared biosynthetically in a scale of 2–5 mmol in submerged cultures of a selected strain of Claviceps paspali by incorporation of DL -5-³H]-tryptophan, DL -6-³H]-tryptophan, DL -alanine-2,3-³H]-tryptophan, or DL -alanine-3-¹⁴C]-tryptophan. Radioactive lysergic acid ( 12 ) was obtained from paspalic acid by base catalysed rearrangement. The procedures for labelling the precursors at high specific activity arc described. The ergolene carboxylic acids 11 and 12 were used as key intermediates for tlie chemical synthesis of radiolabelled peptide ergot alkaloids 14 required for pharinacokinetic and metabolic studies. Linking of the aminocyclols 13 (peptide parts) of the ergotarnine (R¹ = methyl), ergoxine (R¹ = ethyl) and ergotoxine (R¹ =isopropyl) series with a reactive derivative of either lysergic acid or its mixture with paspalic acid was accomplished by standard procedures. l-Mctliyl-13-³H]-ergotarnine (MY 25) ( 16 ) and 2-brotno-α-ergocryptine (bromocriptine, C73 154) ( 17 ), labelled with ³H at position 12 and with ¹⁴C in position 4, were obtained by alkylating ³H-ergolamine and by ljrominating appropriately labelled α-ergocryptines. Radioactive peptide ergot alltaloitls labelled by tlic present nietliotl proved suitable for the use in biological tracer studies.