Abstract: | Tylophorine has been degraded to a compound, identified as 2:3:6:7-tetramethoxy-9-methylphenanthrene. In conjunction with other degradation results and biogenetic considerations, tylophorine is now formulated as 2:3:6:7-tetramethoxyphenanthro(9:10:6′:7′)indolizidine. A synthesis of the basic ring system, phenanthro-(9:10:6′:7′)indolizidine, present in tylophorine has been achieved. |