Structure of Sanguinarine Base

Abstract

The structure of sanguinarine free base was examined. The base is either bis[6-(5,6-dihydrosanguinarinyl)] ether (3) or bis[6-(5,6-dihydrosanguinarinyl)]amine (4) depending on whether Na2CO3 or NH3, respectively, is used as an alkalizing agent. Oxysanguinarine (5) was identified as a side product formed by disproportionation of the pseudobase intermediate 2a.