V AKOGNA VINE

Description

This aconitine alkaloid, originally given the formula C35H41O1ON, has been obtained from Aconitum palmatum. Reduction with PtO2 as catalyst gives the hexahydro derivative in which an exocyclic methylene group and two carbonyl groups have been reduced. The presence of three acetate groups and one benzoate group has been demonstrated. When dehydrogenated with Se at 295°C, followed by heating at 300°C and extraction with CHCI3 , three fractions are obtained. No pure material has been isolated from the basic fraction; the acid component is essentially benzoic acid, while the neutral fraction yields mainly 1 :9-dimethyl-7-ethylphenanthrene. Unlike most of the aconitines, both rings B and C are six-membered.

References

Singh, Jaswal., Tetrahedron Lett., 2219 (1968)
Pelletier et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 93, 5942 (1971)