Studies in the field of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids.

Atherospermine, the major base of Atherosoerma moschatum, has been shown to be identical with berbamine and the phenolic group in this base has been placed unequivocally. Sodium in liquid ammonia reductive cleavages have been used to investigate. structural problems which could not be resolved by standard degradative methods. In particular the secondary nitrogen group has been placed in daphnoline and daphnandrine while more information has been gained concerning the placement of hydroxyl groups in aromoline, daphnandrine, daphnoline,isochondrodendrine and.chondrocurine. Observations, on reductive fission experiments on dauricine and repanduline have been recorded. Some stereochemical problems associated with repandine and okyacanthine have been discussed. Extractions have been performed using modern techniques and these procedures have revealed the presence of new compounds in Berberis vulgaris (isotetrandrine, berberine oxalamide) and Chondrodendron tomentosum (tomentosine, N-benzylphthalimide). Extractions on the Daphnandras have revealed further irregularities in their alkaloid content. The results of 4 survey of some Tasmanian plants for alkaloid-bearing species have been tabulated. Friedelin together with some other non-basic compounds have been iSolated'from the bark of Takini, tree nativeto Surinam South America.