Crytopleurine: and alkaloid of Cryptocarya pleurosperma White & Francis

Abstract

The alkaloid, cryptopleurine, has the empirical formula, C24H27O3N, and contains three methoxyl groups but no terminal methyl or methylimide groups. No active hydrogen atoms are present in the molecule which probably includes the phenanthrene nucleus in its structure. On attempted Hofmann degradation cryptopleurine methiodide is converted to isocryptopleurine methiodide, thence to isocryptopleurine, and Emde degradation of the methochloride of the latter has yielded isodihydrohomocryptopleurine.