20226-97-5

A steroidal alkaloid of Veratrum album, the base crystallizes as colourless prisms. It has [α]²⁰_D - 126° (c 0.65, pyridine) and - 76.6° (c 0.58, EtOH). The sulphate yields colourless crystals from aqueous EtOH, m.p. 250-3°C (dec.); [α]²⁰_D° - 175° (c 0.22, 75% EtOH) and the acetyl derivative forms prisms from Me2CO with one mole of solvent. The structure has been confirmed by the total synthesis of the alkaloid.

Kutney et al., Intrasci. Chem. Rep., 4, 265 (1970)