Photolysis of 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-6, 7, 4', 5'-tetramethoxyisoquinoline-1-spiro-2'-indan-1'-one (II) gave 5, 6-dihydro-2, 3, 10, 11-tetramethoxyberbinium salt (IV) which was further converted into 2, 3, 10, 11-tetramethoxyberbine (VI) by treatment with sodium borohydride. In the same reaction sequence, 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-6, 7, 5', 6'-tetramethoxyisoquinoline-1-spiro-2'-indan-1'-one (IX) was transformed into xylopinine (VII)
