A simple aporphine alkaloid found in Stephania sasakii Hayata, the alkaloid has
[α]D - 90.6° (MeOH) and forms pale yellow needles when crystallized from
Me2CO-Et20. The alkaloid occurs in the non-phenolic fraction of the alkaloidal
extract from the plant and with AC20 in pyridine forms the O-acetate. The
structure of the base has been determined by spectroscopic methods. The
absolute configuration of the 6 -position has been established as R from the
ORD determinations but as yet the steric configuration of the hydroxyl group
remains to be clarified.
Kunimoto et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 3287 (1969)
Kunimoto et al., J. Pharm. Soc., Japan, 92, 1496 (1972)
