The alkaloids of Atherosperma moschatum Labill. I. Isolation of the alkaloids and structure of Berbamine

Abstract

The bark of Atherosperma moschatum Labill. of the family Monimiaceae contains the known bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids berbamine (1.6 per cent.) and isotetrandrine (0.06 per cent.), together with isocorydine (0.007 per cent.) and three new alkaloids atherosperminine, C20H23O2N (0.005 per cent.), atherospermidine, C18Hl3O4N (0 006 per cent.), and spermatheridine, C17H11O3N (0.002 per cent.). The last two alkaloids are bright yellow and weakly basic. In addition to the bases listed above the leaves contain a trace of another alkaloid spermatherine. Both bark and leaves contain . phenolic alkaloids which were not further investigated. The position of the hitherto unlocated hydroxyl group in berbamine is unequivocally established by fission of O-ethylberbamine with sodium in liquid ammonia.