Hydrolysis of ajmalicine with methanolic potassium hydroxide in acetone, followed by methylation with diazomethane gives methoxydihydroajmalicine (VII). From analogy, the structure of methoxydihydroserpentinine obtained by similar treatment of serpentinine was assumed to be as formulated by (III). From the NMR spectrum of serpentinine, the compound was proved to have a dimeric structure.
