Nicotelline is an alkaloid first identified in 1914 as a chemical constituent of tobacco plants ( Nicotiana).
The chemical structure of nicotelline wasn't elucidated until 1956, when it was determined that nicotelline is a terpyridine consisting of three linked pyridine rings.[ This structure was confirmed by laboratory synthesis.] Nicotelline has the molecular formula . It is a crystalline solid with a melting point of 147-148 °C.[ It is soluble in hot water, chloroform, ethanol, and benzene.][
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Nicotelline has long been known to be a constituent of tobacco smoke. As such, it has recently been proposed as a biomarker or environmental tracer for tobacco smoke.