Protoberberines from Reissert-Compounds. Part IX [1]. An Alternative Approach to Dibenzoquinolizine- and Isoquinonaphthyridin-13a-carboxylic Acids, a Novel Synthesis of Alangimarine

3,4-Dihydroisoquinoline-Reissert-compounds were alkylated to 1-benzyl- and 1-picolyl-derivatives, which in turn could selectively be hydrolized yielding various carboxylic acids, among others certain amino acids related to 3,4-deoxynorlaudanosoline carboxylic acid (DNLCA). These on treating with ethanolic KOH underwent cyclization to dibenzoquinolizine- and isoquinonaphthyridine-13a-carboxylic acids. Alternatively this cyclization also could be achieved by a more convenient one-pot procedure starting from the same dihydro-Reissert-compounds. Thermal decarboxylation afforded among others the alangia alkaloids alangimarine and dihydroalangimarine.