Stereoselectivity of the demethylation of nicotine piperidine homologues by Nicotiana plumbaginifolia cell suspension cultures

Cell cultures of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia rapidly demethylate (R)-N-methylanabasine and (R)-N-methylanatabine, (R)-anabasine and (R)-anatabine, respectively, accumulating in the medium. (S)-Anabasine and (S)-anatabine accumulate much more slowly.