The discovery of the oxazole, balsoxin (el, and.theB-hydroxy--0-phenylethylamide, balsarnide (t), constitutes further evidence for the biogenetic relationship between these types of compounds.The structures and comelation of these compounds are presented.During a recent taxonomic investigation of the Amyris species of Jamaica, we discovered the nicotinamides (A) and (Z) to be co-metabolites of the oxazole ( 2 ) in A. plumieri.'This co-occurrence 2 of amide and oxazole lends credence to the ideas of Crow and Hodgkin who suggested a possible biogenetic relationship between these two types of compounds.Another interesting feature is that the plant, A. plurnieri, is purported to be useful against cancer.3This practice may soon find a serious scientific basis when it is considered that cer 4 tain substituted oxazoles show marked mitoinhibitory activity.Recently also, Wehrrneister has extended the biological uses of oxazole derivatives by producing tranquilizers, the composition of which are based on the dihydroonazole nucleus.
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Burke et al. (1979) studied this question.