Arnottianamide occurs in Xanthoxylum arnottianum and, in trace amounts, in X.
cuspidatum. It crystallizes as colourless prisms from EtOH and gives an ultraviolet
spectrum in ethanol with absorption maxima at 236 and 332 nm and shoulders at
280 and 324 nm. The structure has been elucidated from chemical and spectro-scopic data and confirmed by its preparation from chelerythrine chloride by a
Baeyer-Villiger type oxidation of the irnmonium group. Treatment with LiA1H4
gives the deoxo derivative as colourless prisms, m.p. 200-2°C, forming a
crystalline methyl derivative, m.p. l66.5-168.5°C.