1. A colorless or pale yellow alkaloid compound found in small quantities in coal tar and certain plants; used in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical research.
Usage: chemistry; technical

Examples

• Parvoline was first isolated from coal tar in the 19th century.
• Chemists study parvoline as a precursor in the synthesis of more complex alkaloids.
• The structure of parvoline contains a fused ring system characteristic of indole derivatives.
• Parvoline appears in trace amounts in certain plant species native to tropical regions.