The alkaloids of Podopetalum ormondii

Abstract

The major alkaloids of Podopetalum ormondii have been shown to be (−)-podopetaline, (−)-ormosanine, and 6-epipodopetaline. A constant-melting substance, mp 160–161 °C, isolated from the extract proved to be a quasiracemate of (−)-podopetaline and (−)-ormosanine; the absolute configuration of (−)-ormosanine consequently followed from the established absolute configuration of (−)-podopetaline. Both (−)-6-epipodopetaline, mp 118–119 °C, and its racemic form, mp 174–175 °C, were isolated from the extract. A constant-melting ternary mixture, mp 178–179 °C, of the three major alkaloids has also been isolated.