Studies on Pilocereine and Related Compounds. II. Cleavage of O-Methylisopilocereine by Metallic Potassium in Liquid Ammonia.

Abstract

Potassium-liq. ammonia cleavage of O-methylisopilocereine yielded IIa and IIb as bisected bases. This suggested that the structure of isopilocereine is either Ia or XIa, although the previous assignment of Ia to pilocereine and piloceredine by Djerassi, et al. excluded structure (Ia). The synthesis of lophocerine (IIa) is also reported.