Abstract
Pschorr reaction of sodium 3, 4-methylenedioxyphenylacetate or sodium 3, 4-methylenedioxy-6-bromophenylacetate with o-nitrobenzaldehyde afforded 2, 3-or 3, 4-methylenedioxyphenanthrene. The latter had a slightly different melting point from that of a substance assumed to be 3, 4-methylenedioxyphenanthrene, obtained by the Hofmann degradation of anonaine and roemerine, but the picrates of the two substances melted at the same temperature.
