Page 48 - Phytochemistry 2 (06-PG 605)
P. 48

Noscapine (Narcotine)

O                                     NMe
                                     H
 O
              MeO  H
                                   O
MeO
                              O
     MeO                                        Lactone ring

Properties

 It is a laevorotatory, very weakly basic alkaloid

 Practically insoluble in water

 Containing a lactone ring.

 Hot alkali hydroxide                           opening of lactone ring.

 Being a weak base, it can be extracted from aqueous acid solution with
   chloroform.

                   Alkaloids of Opium phenylethylamine structure

Narceine

     O                                Me
                             N
     O
                MeO                   Me

                     C=O

                                           COOH

                                           OMe

                     OMe

• It is optically inactive, weakly basic
• Narceine contains carboxylic group, so it is

        Soluble in alkali hydroxides
        Forms esters with alcohol.

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