299ChemInform Abstract In order to compare color, spectroscopic properties, pKa values, and stabilities, a number of model substances containing the 1,7-diazaheptamethinium chromophore of the yellow and red betalaine plant pigments are synthesized. These compounds include, for instance, (VI) (= betenamine perchlorate, the "naked" ring system of the beet-pigment betanine), (IX), (XI), (XIV), and (XV). (VI) is prepared starting from the pyridines (Ib), (Ic) which, in turn, are accessible from (Ia) ((Ic) is not isolated) via the intermediates (IIIa) (not isolated), (IIIb) and the ring-opened products (Va), (Vb). The starting compounds for (IX), (XI), (XIV), and (XV) are the pyridines (VII) -which are photolytically ring-opened -and the appropriate amines (VIII), (X), (XII) ((S)-cyclodopa), or (XIII).