Oxidation of acetonepalmatine (IV) with potassium permanganate proceeded as well as acetoneberberine (I) to give 8, 13a-propanoberbine derivative (VI). On the other hand, 13-methylacetoneberberine (V) reacted with potassium permanganate to form mainly a lactam (XIV) as a result of the oxidative fission of C13-C13a double bond, together with minor 8, 13a-propanoberbine products, XV and XVI.
