By: Nevina Keskineva

Chemistry Department, East

Stroudsburg University

 History
Structure
Mechanism
Metabolism

of action

 Average

Doses 85-250mg or 1-3 cups of

coffee1
High doses 250-500mg1

Restlessness1
Insomnia1
Seizures1
Cardiovascular instability1

10g

of caffeine is fatal. 1

 Since

Stone Age
Ethiopian Legend
Friedrich Ferdinand Runge
Hermann Emil Fischer

Nitrogen
The name derives from the word
alkaline, which is used to describe any
nitrogen containing base(an amine) .
Therefore alkaloids are described as
basic, nitrogen containing compounds
of plant or animal origin.
True alkaloids are compounds that:
The nitrogen atom is part of a
heterocyclic system
Compound has a complex
molecular structure
Manifests pharmacological activity
Compound is restricted to the
plant kingdom.

Heterocyclic
System

Caffeine

Caffeine

Caffeine Zwitterion Resonance

Aromatic molecules are planar, cyclic, species that have 4n +2

electrons. (Huckels rule)
Molecules with 2,6,10,14,18. electrons are aromatic.
Caffeine has 10 electrons, therefore is aromatic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0oi3V_
EqhI

 Heart
Anxiety

and sleep disorders

 Caffeine

is the most popular drug

Binds to the adenosine receptors
It is almost completely metabolized
It has positive and negative effects on the
body