Two new peptide alkaloids, scutianines-K and -L were isolated from Scutia buxifolia, a plant growing in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Their structures have been determined on the basis of spectroscopic studies. The stereochemistry of the N,N-dimethyl amino acid side-chain and the ring amino acid residues in both alkaloids have been assigned by gas chromatography employing modified cyclodextrins as chiral stationary phases. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.