Berberine hydrochloride → Dihydroberberine

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of berberine hydrochloride (3,718 g, 10 mmol) in pyridine (30 mL) was added portionwise sodium borohydride (450 mg, 12 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. More sodium borohydride (380 mg, 10 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for 1 h. The reduction was monitored by TLC (DCM-ethyl acetate-methanol 4:4:2). The mixture was poured onto ice water. The precipitate was filtered, the residue washed with water and then dried under vacuum over calcium chloride to give 2.860 g of title compound in about 85 % yield.

Provenance & Evidence