6-methoxy-8-[[6-methoxy-8-[[6-methoxy-2-methyl-1-(2-methylpropyl)-3,4- dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-7-yl]oxy]-2-methyl-1-(2-methylpropyl)-3,4-dihyd ro-1H-isoquinolin-7-yl]oxy]-2-methyl-1-(2-methylpropyl)-3,4-dihydro-1H -isoquinolin-7-ol

A constituent of the cactus Lophocereus Schottii, this alkaloid yields colourless crystals from AcOEt. The structure is that of a trimeric isoquinoline. A dihydro_x0002_chloride is obtained as the dihydrate, m.p. 228- 232°C (dec.); the diperchlorate has m.p. 214-7°C; the oxalate forms a crystalline dihydrate, m.p. 158-163°C (dec.) on rapid heating and m.p. 198- 200°C (dec.) on slow heating. The O-acetate has m.p. 186°C and the methyl ether exists in two forms as crystals from AcOEt, m.p. 133-5°C and crystals from hexane which melt at 92-105°C and again at I 53-5°C after intermediate solidification. The structure has been determined by chemical degradation and spectroscopic analysis.

ChEBI: Pilocereine is an aromatic ether.

Djerassi, Frick, Geller., J. Amer. Chern. Soc., 75,3632 (1953)
Djerassi et aI., ibid, 79, 2203 (1957)
Djerassi et al., ibid, 84, 3210 (1962)
Bobbitt, Eberman, Schubert., Tetrahedron Lett., 575 (1963)
Franck, Blasche., ibid, 569 (1963)