Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Rohitukine

The absolute configuration of rohitukine, isolated from the stem-bark of Dysoxylum binectariferum, was determined to be 5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-8-[4-(3S, 4R-3-hydroxy-1-methyl)-piperidinyl]-4H-l-benzopyran-4-one by X-ray crystallographic analysis on the crystal of,4-bromobenzoyl derivatives of rohitukine. At the same time, the modified Mosher method was proved to be unsuitable for determining the absolute configuration of C-3‘ position in rohitukine.