The quettamines: a new class of isoquinoline alkaloids

Three quettamine type alkaloids, which incorporate either a benzofuran or a dihydrobenzofuran moiety within the molecular framework, have been obtained from $\text{Berberis}$$\text{baluchistanica}$. These are dihydrosecoquettamine ($\text{1}$), secoquettamine ($\text{2}$), and quettamine chloride ($\text{3}$). Alkaloids $\text{1}$ and $\text{3}$ are racemates. Hofmann degradation of quettamine ($\text{3}$) provides secoquettamine ($\text{2}$) and the styrene $\text{4}$ which has a trans relationship between the hydrogens at C-1 and C-α, thus indicating the identical stereochemistry in quettamine. Emde reduction of quettamine leads to dihydrosecoquettamine ($\text{1}$) and the stilbene $\text{5}$. Two other polar alkaloids in the plant are (+)-armepavine methochloride ($\text{6}$) and oblongine chloride ($\text{7}$). An oblongine type alkaloid must be the biogenetic precursor for the quettamines. Arguments are presented favoring direct oxidative coupling in the biogenesis of the cularine alkaloids.