One of two alkaloids isolated from the leaves of Craspidospermum verticilliatum
var. petiotare, this base also occurs in the leaves of Crioceras diptadeniij1oris. It
yields colourless needles when crystallized from hexane and is laevorotatory with
a specific rotation of [α]20D- 42° (c 1.0, CHC13). The ultraviolet spectrum in
EtOH consists of two absorption maxima at 248 and 299 nm. The base has been
characterized as the N-methyl derivative with m.p. 138°C and [α]20D + 60.5°
(c 0.9, CHC13). The structure given has been established from chemical
degradations and spectroscopic investigations.
Bruneton, Bouquet, Cave, Phytochem., 13, 1963 (1974)
Kan-Fan et at., Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. (12 part 2), 2839 (1974)
