protostephanine

BeschreibungA Stephania alkaloid, this base is found in S. japonica Miers. It forms colourless prisms from MeOH which contain solvent of crystallization, m.p. 75°C. The solvent may be removed under vacuum when the dry alkaloid has a higher melting point of 90-S°C. It is optically inactive and yields crystalline saits, e.g. the hydrochloride, m.p. 150°C (dec.); platinichloride, orange prisms, m.p. 223°C (dec.); methiodide, m.p. 220-loC and the methomethylsulphate, m.p. 235°C after sintering at 227°C. The structure has recently been confirmed by a synthesis which follows a route related to the biosynthetic pathway.