Spiraea japonica L. fil. yields a series of closely related alkaloids, Spiradines A-G.
This particular base is characterized as the methiodide which forms orthorhombic crystals decomposing above 330°C; the O-acetate, m.p. 21S-6°C and the N_x0002_acetyl derivative, m.p. 173-S°C. With NaBH4 in MeOH it yields Spiradine B
(q.v.) while on catalytic hydrogenation in EtOH it forms the dihydro derivative,
m.p. 291-2°C in which the exocyclic methylene group is reduced. The crystal
structure has been determined by X-ray analysis of the methiodide which
crystallizes in the space group P2 12121 with a = 14.04, b = IS.88, c = 8.SS A
and Z = 4.
