This novel alkaloid occurs in the bark of Sophora chrysophylla and is obtained
in the form of colourless crystals of the dihydrate which have the above melting
point after prior melting at 100-4°C followed by resolidification. The base has
been characterized as the crystalline cyclohexylsulphonate, m.p. 245-252°C and
the diacetate which forms colourless needles that decompose on standing at
room temperature. The free base is optically active with a specific rotation of
[α]24.3/sup>D + 31.7° (c 2.32, EtOH). Mamaine is an intermediate in a previously
unknown biogenetic pathway of the Sophora alkaloids (cf. Pohakuline).
Kadooka et al., Tetrahedron, 32, 919 (1976)
