Studies on the Alkaloids of Menispermaceae Plants. LXXX

Abstract

The authors carried out the decomposition of isotetrandrine with metallic sodium in liquid ammonia. As a result, compounds corresponding to 1-(4′-methoxy-benzyl)-6, 7-dimethoxy-N-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (VII) and 1-(4′-hydroxy-benzyl)-6-methoxy-7-hydroxy-N-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (VIII) were obtained as the decomposition products. On the basis of this result, the authors confirmed that the structure of isotetrandrine is (III, R=CH3). Accordingly, all structures of alkaloids in the oxyacanthine-berbamine series were determined.