Abstract
Hydrolysis of serpentinine with sodium hydroxide in ethanol-acetone afforded an acid, characterized as the hydrochloride of m. p. 273°(decomp.), [α]D +181°(EtOH). The acid reverted to serpentinine on treatment with diazomethane. Hydrolysis of the alkaloid with 20% sodium hydroxide in methanol-acetone (3:2) at room temperature afforded a half-ester (methyl hydrogenmethoxydihydroserpentininate) as needles, m. p. 253°(decomp.), [α]D-65°(EtOH). Treatment of the half-ester with diazomethane gave methoxydihydroserpentinine as yellow needles, m. p. 252°, [α]D-14°(EtOH).
