Synthesis of thalicarpine
.- United States Patent [191 Kupchan et al.  
 [ 1 Apr. 1,1975  
 [ SYNTHESIS OF THALICARPINE [75] Inventors: S. Morris Kupchanj Andris J. Liepa,  
 both of Charlottesville, Va.  
 [73] Assignee: Research Corporation, New York,  
 [22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,215  
 [51] Int. Cl C07d 43/28 [58] Field of Search 260/289 R, 288 R, 289 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,113,133 12/1963 Hofmann et a1. 260/285.5 3,131,191 4/1964 Douglas 260/288 R 3,376,305 4/1968 Cava 260/289 A 3,474,104 10/1969 Ott 260/288 R 3,717,643 2/1973 Archer 260/289 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS Shamma et al., Chem. Abstr., Vol. 64, all 3621 b Chemical and Eng. News, Dec. 12, 1966, pg. 64.  
 Manske, The Alkaloids, Vol. IX, Academic Press, pp. 144-145 (1967).  
 Primary Examiner-Donald G. Daus Attorney, Agent, or FirmOmri M. Behr [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a novel total synthesis of thalicarpine which includes inter alia a total synthesis of hernandaline. The novel process is characterised in utilizing simple and readily available starting materials to form a diary] ether system which is then condensed with a 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium salt which is then converted to hernandaline. Hernandaline is reacted with a bicyclic Reissert compound to yield a compound having the thalicarpine skeleton, nascent hydrogen reduction yields N-monodesmethyl thalicarpine which is methylated.  
 4 Claims, No Drawings SYNTHESIS OF THALICARPINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION Synthesis of tumour-inhibitory alkaloids.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The alkaloid, thalicarpine is a compound which has exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the Walker intramuscular carcinosarcoma 256 in rats, over a wide dosage range. (Hartwell and Abbott (Adv. Pharm. Chemotherapy (1969), 7 117.) The alkaloid, which is of a natural natural origin, has heretofore been synthesized via an Ullman type either synthesis (Tomita et al., Chem. and Pharm. Bull (Japan) I967, 15, 959). This synthesis is not suitable for large scale produetion of the alkaloid in view of the relative inaccessibility of starting materials and the low yield in the formation of the diary] ether linkage which constitutes the I OMe OMe VI R:  
 VII R= final step of the synthesis. The snythesis of alkaloid hernandaline which also has cytotoxic properties, has also been reported heretofore (Cava et al., Tetrahedron Letters, l966)4279). This synthesis has also been found unsuitable for large scale production of hernandaline and has remained of purely academic interest.  
  In view of the considerable interest in thalicarpine as a tumor-inhibiting agent, it was believed desirable to find an alternate synthesis which avoided the formation of the diaryl ether linkage at a late stage in the synthesis and was directed to the construction of the 2 cyclic portions of the alkaloid with the diary] ether linkage in place from the start.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The novel process for the synthesis of thalicarpine via hernandaline is set forth in the following flow diagram.  
 &#39; O&#39;K 7! N0 Me Me III OMe II I Me OMe  
 VIII R&#39;=H OMe u 5 IX R: CH0 3 OMe O I n C OMe CN X MeO  NMe MeO MeO wherein Me.  
 methyl In this process, 2,3,4-trimethoxy--methyl-4- nitrodiphenyl ether (III), a new compound, is prepared by the reaction of 3-bromo-4-methoxy-o-nitrotoluene with 3,4-dimethoxyphenol in the presence of an alkali in an acetonitrile solution.  
  The nitrophenyl ether (III) is then condensed with 2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium halide (IV) by means of a Robinson-Hope synthesis. It is our surprising finding that the traditionally used condensing agent, namely an alkali metal alkoxide in the corresponding alkanol, for example, sodium ethoxide in ethanol does not give significant amounts of product. We have found, however, that the use of an alkali metal hydride in an NN-dialkylalkanoyl-amide does give highly satisfactory results. The resultant l- [2-nitro-4- methoxy-5-(4,5-dimethoxy)phenoxy benzyl]-2-methyl- 6,7-dimethoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (V) is readily reduced by catalytic hydrogenation to the corresponding amine (VI) which is then diazotized in the usual manner. The diazonium salt is then hydrolyzed in the usual manner by heating in aqueous solution, to yield a mixture comprising the phenol (VII), and the aporphine (VIII). Both of these products may suitably be isolated in the form of an acid salt, suitably the hydrobromide.  
  The aporphine (VIII) is then formylated by reaction with dimethyl formamide and phosphorus oxychloride in a suitable solvent. On work up, there is yielded hernandaline (IX) in good yield.  
  Hernandaline (IX) is treated with the Reissert compound 2-benzoyl-l -cyano-6,7-dimethoxy -l ,2- dihydroisoquinoline (X) in the presence of a strong base in an inert atmosphere.  
  Work up in the usual manner yield the benzoate (XI) which is not further purified but is subject to reduction to yield the N-monodesmethyl thalicarpine (XII). It is our surprising finding that hydrogenation using a catalyst proceeded so slowly as to be totally unsatisfactory. It is our further surprising finding, however, that nascent hydrogen reduction removes the benzoate group and also reduces the remaining isoquinolyl nucleus while leaving the methoxy substituted carbocyclic aryl nuclei intact. This product (XII), is then methylated in the usual manner to give a product which, upon crystallization, is identical with an authentic sample of thalicarpine similarly crystallized.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the preferred modification of the present invention the aporphine precursor (V) is prepared by condensation of 2,3&#39;4&#39;-trimethoxy-5-methyl-4-nitrodiphenyl ether with a quaternary 2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-  
 XII R&#34;: H  
 XIII R&#34;= Me dihydroisoquinolinium salt suitably the iodide, in a modification of the Robinson-Hope synthesis. It is our surprising finding that this synthesis is substantially inoperative utilizing the generally recognized condensing agent, that is to say, sodium ethoxide in ethanol. We have found that although moderately satisfactory results may be obtained utilizing alkoxides of higher alkanols for example an alkali metal tertiary butoxides in t-butanol, the best results are obtained using an alkali metal hydride such as sodium or potassium hydride in an NN-dialkylalkanoyl amide such as dimethyl acetamide or dimethylformamide. In the preferred procedure, the base such as sodium hydride, is added slowly to a solution of imidazole in the solvent. Effervescence results due to the formation of hydrogen When the effervescence has subsided, the mixture is cooled in an ice/water bath to from about 0C. to about 5C and the isoquinolinium salt(IV) added thereto followed, by agitation with the ether (III). A further portion of the base is added, the mixture permitted to warm to ambient temperature, agitated, and cooled to icebath temperature prior to being quenched by the addition of alkanol suitably a low alkanol such as methanol. It is preferred to utilize from about 2 to 3 mols of sodium hydride (divided into 2 equal portions) per mole of ether, and from about 1.0 to about 1.5 mole of the isoquinolinium salt per mole of ether. The total reaction time is from about 5 to about 7 hours between the time of mixing of components and quenching by addition of the alkanol.  
  After quenching with alkanol, the reaction mixture is worked up .with a combination of substantially water immiscible solvents and aqueous sodium chloride. After work-up of the solvent extracts, the resulting tetrahydroisoquinoline (V) is isolated as an orange glass, which may be utilized in the next stage of the synthesis.  
  The nitro group of the tetrahydroisoquinoline (V) is then reduced to the corresponding amine suitable by catalytic hydrogenation. It has been found suitable to carry out this hydrogenation at substantially atmospheric pressure in an alkanol suitably ethanol over a hydrogenation catalyst, suitably a palladium on charcoal catalyst. Hydrogenation is carried on until absorption of hydrogen ceases. During the course of the reduction, some of the amine produced is precipitated,  
 this is redissolved by addition of a suitable solvent, for  
 &#39; example, chloroform, the catalyst removed by filtration, and the solvent removed from the filtrate preferably by the evaporation in a rotary evaporator. The amine (VI) is then crystallized, suitably by trituration with methanol, followed, if desired, by recrystallization from aqueous ethanol.  
  It is not necessary to purify the crystalline products (VI) to any great degree. The amine (VI) is diazotized by preparing a solution thereof in aqueous acid, suitably aqueous phosphoric acid and adding thereto a freshly prepared solution of an excess of sodium nitrite in water. The excessnitrous acid is destroyed, preferably by the addition of sulphamic acid, and thus produced diazonium salt is heated to a temperature just under the boiling point of water suitably on a steambath for about 1 hour.  
  Upon cooling, the reaction product is quenched by pouring into water, made alkaline suitably by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide, and extracted with a suitable solvent, such as ether. The extract combined and purified, suitably by chromotography.  
  Two fractions are obtained from the chromatographic separation, the fractions are converted to acid salts, preferably the hydrobromides by addition of hydrobromic acid to a solution of each in a suitable solvent such as ethyl acetate. One of the fractions is the aporphine (Vlll) hydrobromide which is used in the next stage of the synthesis the other is the phenol (Vll) hydrobromide which may either be discarded, or recycled to the amine by any of the methods known in the arts for the conversion of a phenol into the corresponding aniline.  
  The aporphine (Vlll) hydrobromide is then for mylated. In the preferred procedure, the salt taken up in a mixture of dimethylformamide and phosphorous oxychloride in a suitable solvent such as nitrobenzene, and heated at from about 70 to 90C., suitably on a steam bath, for about to about 60 minutes. The reaction is quenched by pouring into aqueous acid, suitably aqueous phosphoric acid.  
  The aqueous phase is separated, made alkaline, and extracted, suitably with ether to yield racemic hernandaline which may, if desired, be resolved by formation of the -B-bromo-1r-camphor sulfonic acid ammonium salt in the usual manner.  
  Hernandaline may then be readily converted into thalicarpine by a 3 step synthesis.  
  in the preferred modification a solution of hernandaline and the Reisticrt compound (X) in a suitable solvent, for example, a dialkylalkanoylamide such as dimethylformamide, is prepared, and agitated in an ice bath under nitrogen. A slight excess, (suitably a 0.5 molar excess) of a strong base, preferably an alkali metal hydride, is then added, the mixture agitated in the ice bath and then at ambient temperatures suitably for periods of about I to 3 hours at each temperature. The reaction is quenched by the careful addition of a lower alkanol suitably methanol, and the mixture worked up by the addition of water and substantially water immiscible solvents, suitably a mixture of ether and chloroform. The organic layer is washed, extracted with aqueous mineral acid, suitably aqueous dilute hydrochloric acid, the acid&#39;layeriis separated, made basic, and extracted with. a suitable solvent for example, methylene chloride, to yield the benzoate ester of (ac-{4, 5-dimethoxy-2-[5,6,6a,7tetrahydro-l ,2, l trimethoxy-6-methyl(-4H-dibenzo-[de,g]quinolin-9- yl)oxy]-phenyl l -(6,7-dimethoxyisoquinolyl) methanol (Xl). v  
 Contrary to what would normally be expected in a compound of this nature, it was not found possible to ous acetic acid, however, other sources which may be mentioned as suitable are tin in hydrochloric acid, Raney nickel, and electrolytic reduction. In the preferred mode, the product (XI) is taken up in approximately aqueous acetic acid, an excess of zinc powder added, and the mixture warmed, suitably to about 35 to 60C. for about l8 to about 30 hours. The mixture is worked up in the usual manner, filtered, the filtrate made basic suitably with aqueous ammonium hydroxide and the alkaline layer extracted suitably with ether, to give Ndesmethyl thalicarpine (Xll) as a thin pale glass.  
  This compound is then converted to thalicarpine by methylation of the unsubstituted ring nitrogen. It is especially preferred to carry out the methylation using formaldehyde in formic acid suitably in the form of formalin. in this modification, compound XI is taken up in formic acid containing formalin and heated for about 30 to about 60 minutes at from about 70 to C. suitably on a steam bath. The reaction mixture is quenched with water, made alkaline, and extracted with ether, to yield a residue upon evaporation of the solvent. Recrystallization from aqueous ethanol yields thalicarpine.  
 EXAMPLE I 3-Brom0-4-mcthoxy-o-nitrotoluenc (l) A slurry of 3-amino-4-methoxy-o-nitrotoluene l 8 g) in water (20 ml) containing acetic acid (20 ml) and hydrobromic acid (47%, 35 ml) is stirred until a fine suspension of the hydrobromide is formed, cooled to 0, and treated with a solution of sodium nitrite (7 g) in water (20 ml) added over 20 min. After a further l0 min., the yellow-brown solution is stirred into a mixture of cuprous bromide (30 g) and hydrobromic acid (47%, 30 ml) in water (50 ml), the mixture warmed on the steam bath until an effervescence commences and then at 70 for l hr. The mixture is cooled, diluted with water (500 ml), and the solid collected and recrystallized from aqueous ethanol to give a 3-bromo-4- methoxy-o-nitrotoluene (l) as pale yellow needles (18 g, 72%): mp 9l92.  
  Anal. Calcd for C H BrNQ, C, 39.05; H, 3.28; N, 5.69. Found: C, 39.40; H, 3.11; N, 5.93.  
 EXAMPLE ll 2,3&#39;,4&#39;-Trimethoxy-5-methyl-4-nitrodiphenylether (Ill) A mixture of 3,4-dimethoxyphenol (20 g) and potassium hydroxide (8 g) in methanol is refluxed until a homogeneous solution is formed and then evaporated under reduced pressure to a thick syrup. The residue is stirred thoroughly with acetonitrile (200 ml) and the mixture evaporated on a rotary evaporator. Acetonitrile 150 ml) followed by 3-bromo-4-methoxy-6- nitrotoluene (l), (30 g) is added to product and the mixture refluxed for 42 hr. Water ml) is added and the whole evaporated under reduced pressure until the organic solvent has been removed. Aqueous potassium hydroxide (1 /1, 500 ml) is added and the mixture extracted with chloroform (2 X200 ml). The combined chloroform extracts are evaporated, the residue dissolved in a minimum of benzene, and the solution applied to a chromatographic column prepared from silica gel (Merck 0.20.05 mm, 400 g) in benzene. Elution&#39;is carried out with benzene followed by chloroform (increased by 10% increments up to 50%) in benzene to give unchanged nitrotoluene l) (9.3 g), followed by the diphenyl ether (lll). Recrystallization of the crude (111) from chloroform-hexane gave 2,3,4- trimethoxy-S-methyl-4-nitrodiphenyl ether pale yellow prisms (17.0 g, 64%): mp 127l28; nmr (CDCla) signals at 8 2.45 (3H, CH3), 3.82, 3.88, 3.94 (3H each, 3OCHn), 6.40-7.70 (5H, aromatic H).  
 EXAMPLE 111 1-[ 2-Nitro-4-methoxy-5-(4,5- dimethoxy)phenoxybenzyl]-2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy- 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (V) Sodium hydride (50% in oil, 0.3 g) is added under nitrogen in portions 100 mg) to a solution of imidazole (0.44 g) in N,N-dimethylacetamide (25 ml) during 30 min. When the effervescence subsides the mixture is cooled to treated with 2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4- dihydroisoquinolinium iodide (IV) (2.1 g), stirred 15 min and followed by 2,3&#39;,4&#39;-trimethoxy-5-methyl-4- nitrophenyl ether (111) (1.7 g) and, 5 min. later, by more sodium hydride (50% in oil, 0.29 g), added in one portion. After 1.5 hr. the mixture is allowed to attain room temperature, stirred 3 hr and cooled again to 0 before addition of methanol (2 ml). The solution is stirred l min, chloroform ml) added and the whole poured into a mixture of ether (150 ml) and chloroform ml) in aqueous sodium chloride (5%, 300 ml). The organic phase is separated, washed with aqueous sodium chloride 1%, 300 ml), and extracted with hydrochloric acid 1%, 80 ml, 50 ml) followed by water ml). The combined extracts are washed with ether (80 ml), the aqueous phase make alkaline with ammonium hydroxide and extracted with ether (2 X 70 ml). The ether extract is evaporated to give l-l2-nitro-4- methoxy-5-(4,5-dimethoxy)phenoxybenzyl]-2-methyl- 6,7-dimethoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (V) as an orange glass 1.8 g). A small portion of the product dissolved in acetone may be treated with oxalic acid and the salt which precipitates upon addition of ether collected recrystallizes from ethanolethyl acetate to give the oxalate of (V): mp 127-129.  
  Anal. Calcd for C ,,H N O C, 58.25; H, 5.53; N, 4.52. Found: C, 58.07; H, 5.67; N, 4.59.  
 EXAMPLE 1V Reduction to 1-[2-amino-4-methoxy-5-(4,5-dimethoxy)phenoxybenzyl -2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-l ,2,3,4- tetrahydroisoquinoline (VI) A solution of crude (V) (1.8 g) in ethanol (50 ml) containing palladium-on-carbon catalyst (10%, 0.4 g) is stirred under an atmosphere of hydrogen until absorption ceases. Chloroform ml) is added to dissolve some precipitated amine, the catalyst filtered off and the filtrate evaporated on the rotary evaporator to a viscous oil. Methanol 10 ml) is added to the oil and the mixture warmed rapidly to 60, stirred until crystallization begins and then at 22 for 3 hrs. The crystalline precipitate is collected and washed with a little aqueous methanol (60%, 5 ml) to give 1-[2-amino-4-methoxy- 5-(4,5-dimethoxyphenoxybenzyl)]-2-methy1-6,7- dimethoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (V1) 1.1 g, 42% from (111) mp 170172. An analytical sample is crystallized from aqueous ethanol: mp 172-173; k,,,,,,&#34;&#34;&#39;;, (log e 238 (4.32), 291 (4.04) mg; nmr signals (CDCls at 8, 2.54 (NCHa), 3.64, 3.75, 3.83 (3H,3H,9H,50CH 6.15-6.71 (7H, aromatic H).  
  Anal. Calcd for C ,,N N O C, 67.99; H, 6.93; N, 5.66. Found: C, 68.08; H, 6.89; N, 5.53.  
 EXAMPLEV Aporphine cyclization A solution of 1-[2-amino-4-methoxy-5-(4,5-  
 dimethoxy)phenoxybenzyl]-2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxyl,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (V1) (2.4 g) in aqueous phosphoric acid (45%, 22 ml) at 0 is diazotized by the dropwise addition during 5 min of a solution of sodium nitrite (0.4 g) in water (2 ml). Excess nitrous acid is destroyed by sulphamic acid (0.2 g), the solution heated at for 1 hr., poured into water (300 ml), made alkaline with aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted with ether (three ml portions). The combined extracts are evaporated, the residue dissolved in chloroform, applied to preparative layer silica plates (Merck F-254 2 mm layer thickness) and eluted with methanolehloroform (4%). The two principal high R, bands are collected and extracted with methanol-chloroform (20%). Each extract is evaporated to dryness, the residues dissolved in ethyl acetate (25 ml), treated with hydrobromic acid (47%, 0.6 ml each) and the mixtures stirred overnight. The more polar fraction crystallized from ethanol-ethyl acetate to give the 9-( 3,4-dimethox yphenoxy 5,6,601, 7-tetrahydro-l ,2,10-trimethoxy-6- methyl-4H-dibenzo [de,g] quinoline (V111) hydrobromide (405 mg, 15): mp 212-214 dec; A,,,,,,-&#34;&#34;&#34; (log 6), 280 (4.25), 300 (4.18), 316 (infl) (4.04 mg; nmr signals (CDCl at 6, 3,03 (broad s, NCHa), 3.59, 3.82, 3.86, 3.90 (3H,3H,3H,6H,50CH3), 6.51-8.17 (6H, aromatic H).  
  Anal. Calcd for C ,,H BrNO c, 60.22; H, 5.78; N, 2.51. Found: C, 60.02; H, 5.83; N, 2.45.  
  The second fraction yielded the l-[2-hydroxy4- methoxy-5-( 4,5-dimethoxy )phenoxybenzyl]-2-methy1- 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (V11) hydrobromide (370 mg, 13%): mp 164166. Treatment of (V11) hydrobromide with aqueous potassium carbonate gave the free base which crystallized from aqueous ethanol: mp 135.5-l 37; nmr signals (CDCl at 6, 2.62 (3H, NCH.-;), 3.71, 3.81, 3.82 (6H,6H,3H,50CH 5.906.75 (7H, aromatic H).  
  Anal. Calcd for C ,,H NO,: C, 67.86; H, 6.71; N, 2.83. Found: C, 67.81; H, 6.71; N, 2.81.  
 EXAMPLE V1 (:t)Hernandaline (1X) A mixture of the 9,3,4-dimethoxyphenoxy)-(5,6,6a, 7-tetrahydro-1,2,10-trimethoxy-6-methy1-41-1- dibenzo[de,g] quinoline (V111) hydrobromide (300 mg), N,N-dimethylformamide (l g), and phosphorus oxychloride 1 g) in nitrobenzene (2 m1) are heated on the steam bath for 45 min, poured into aqueous phosphoric acid (100 ml, 271) and extracted with ether (three 30 ml portions). The aqueous phase is separated, made alkaline with aqueous sodium hydroxide 10%) and extracted with ether (three 30 ml portions). The latter ether extracts are combined, evaporated and the residue crystallized from aqueous ethanol to give hernandaline (1X) (174 mg, 65%); mp 148149.5; nmr, ir and uv identical with (i) hernandaline.  
  Anal. Calcd for C ,,H NO C, 68.91; H, 6.18; N, 2.77. Found: C, 68.79; H, 6.10; N, 2.78.  
 EXAMPLE V11 Resolution of(:*:) Hernandaline (1X) Hernandaline (i)-a-bromocamphor-rr-sulphonate A mixture of (1&#39;) hernandaline (100 mg) and (+)-a-bromocamphor-rr-sulphonic acid ammonium salt 100 mg) in aqueous ethanol (307:, 2 ml) containwas stirred with zinc powder (30 mesh, l5 g) at 4550 ing acetic acid (50mg) is stirred at 50 until crystal forfor 24 hr. The mixture is diluted with water (200 ml), mation began and then overnight at room temperature. warmed to dissolve zinc acetate, filtered, and the fil- The precipitate is collected and recrystallized from trate cooled and basified with ammonium hydroxide. aqueous ethanol to give the salt as pale yellow needles 5 Extraction of the alkaline mixture with ether (three 50 mg) p dCC&#39;. [a1 (c 1.42, in methanol) ml p rtions) followed by evaporation of the ether gives (Xll) as a pale brown glass which is dissolved in formic A c l d f Q H B No sj-l o C 56 1; H acid (97%, 4 ml) containing formalin (40%, l ml) and 5.79;1 1, 1.68. Found: c, 56.16; H, 5.81; N, 1.59. heated for 45 min on e steam bathl() The cooled solution is diluted with water (50 ml), EXAMPLE made alkaline with ammonium hydroxide, and ex- Resolution tracted with ether (three 20 ml portions). The residue Acetic acid 140 mg) is added to a mixture of (i) hep remaining after removal of the ether is dissolved in ethnandaline (200 mg) and (+)-a-bromo- 1r-cam h lnol (3 ml), the solution diluted slowly with water (2 sulphonic acid ammonium salt (180 mg) in aqueous l (wanlnlng if nccfissary to inhibit Precipitation) to 3 ethanol (35%, 25 ml). the mixture warmed to effect famt turbidity and st1rred48 hr. The pree1p1tate crystalsolution and seeded with a few crystals of the pure herfrom cthucnll gives thallcarplnc x nandaline salt. The mixture is stirred at 40 for 2 hr i P l A portlon cry stalhzoed (with occasional brief heating to dissolve any tar pre- 70 wl f g the form mp l57 cipitated with the crystalline material) and at for l 8 l A hr. The precipitate is collected, washed with a little process whcmm the Compound Ofmrmula aqueous ethanol, dissolved in aqueous ethanol OMe MeO 5 ml) at 70 and treated with concentrated am monium hydroxide (100 mg). The solution is cooled, 25 H stirred 20 hr at room temperature and the precipitate M M g NMe. crystallized from aqueous ethanol to give hernandaline H (64 mg, 64% )1 mp l70l7l. Hernandaline condensation with l-cyano-2-benzoyl- O 6,7-dimethoxy-l,Z-dihydroisoquinoline (X) 30 A solution of hernandaline (2.9 g) in N,N-dimethyl- OM&#39;e Meo formamide (50 ml) containing lcyano-2-ben7 oyl-6,7- dimethoxy-l,2 dihydroisoquinoline (X) (2.3 g) is 0M9 cooled in an ice bath and treated (under nitrogen) with is cd y eacting a compound of the formula sodium hydride (50% in oil, 0.4 g) added in portions over I hr. The brown solution is stirred for a further 2 hr. at 0 and then 2 hg. at 20. Methanol (3 ml) is added dropwise, the mixture stirred 10 min and poured into a mixture of water (500 ml) and etherchloroform (6:l The lower layer is discarded and the ether solution washed with water and then extracted with hydrochloric acid (2%, three 100 ml portions). Ph  
 The acid solution is basit&#39;ied by addition of ammonia and extracted with methylene chloride (two 100 ml OMe MeO portions). Evaporation of the solvent gave the benzoate OMe ester of oz-{4,5-dimethoxy-2-[5,6,6a,7-tetrahydrol,2,l0-trimethoxy-6-methyl (-4l-l-dibenzowherein Ph is phenyl, with nascent hydrogen. l glq -yl) Xy]-phenyl}-1-( ,7- 2. A process wherein 4 I 5 MeO 3 OMe N dimethoxyisoquinolyl) methanol. (XI) (4.8 g): is formed by reacting hernandaline with EXAMPLE X Formation of Thalicarpine (Xlll) 5 A solution of the benzoate ester of a-{4,5- 3 Me dimethoxy-2-[ 5 ,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-l ,2,l O-trimethoxy- O 6-methyl(-4H dibenzo-[de,g]quinolin-9-yl)oxy]- 2:- phenyl l 6,7-di1nethoxyisoquinolyl) methanol. (Xl) (0.48 g) in acetic acid (30 ml) containing water (6 ml) CN OMe  3. A process according to claim I wherein the source 4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the source ofnasccnt hydrogen is zinc in acetic acid, tin in hydroof nasccnt hydrogen is zinc in acetic acid. chloric acid, or Rancy nickel.