6858-85-1

This amorphous alkaloid from Stephania japonica Miers is almost a tautomeric mixture. It yields a crystalline methiodide, m.p. 207°C; [α]²⁰_D - 32° (MeOH) which may be used to characterize the base. Three methoxy1 groups, one hydroxyl group and a methylimino group are present in the molecule. When heated with AC20 at 180°C in a sealed tube, the base gives 1-acetoxy-2:S:6- trimethoxyphenanthrene, m.p. 140°C.

Tomita, Ibuka, Inubushi., Tetrahedron Lett., 3617 (1964)
Tomita, Inubushi, Ibuka., J. Pharm. Soc., Japan, 87, 381 (1967)