Azafluorene and Aporphine Alkyloids from Polyalthia longifolia

Abstract

A novel azafluorene alkaloid , polylongine (5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-l-methyl-4-azafluoren-9-01) and three new aporphine N-oxide alkaloids named (+)-O-methylbulbocapnine 4 -N-oxide a , (t)-O-methylbulbocapnine -a -N-oxide and (+)-N-methylnandigerine -4-N-oxide were isolated from the leaves of Polyalthia longifalia (Sonn.)Thwaites (Annonaceae).The Annonaceae is a large family comparising ca.120 genera and more than 2000 species.Phytogeographically it is entirely tropical and subtropical.120 species being presented in genus Polyalthia.Earlier work on the chemical examination from the plants of Polyalthia g e n ~s l -' ~ has given carbohydrates, diterpenes, triterpenes, polyphenols, flavones, nitrogen heterocycles (zincpolyanemine),indolosesquiterpenes, zinc containing compound (anluosu), benzylisoquinolines, protoberberines, tetrahydroprotoberberines, bisbenzylisoquinolines, aporphines, dehydroaporphines, bisaporphines, oxoaporphines and morphinandienones.In the course of our study of the chemical constituents of the Formosan Annonaceous plants, we report the results of the investigation of the leaves from P.