Carbon-13 NMR spectra of some phenanthrene derivatives from Aristolochia indica and their analogues

¹³C NMR spectra of compounds related to aristolochic acid and aristololactam, the constituents of Aristolochia indica, have been studied to determine the chemical shifts and coupling constants of polysubstituted phenanthrenes. Selective ¹H decoupling and long-range couplings were utilized for the assignments. Substituent-induced chemical shifts and also the effects on coupling constants could be deduced in some cases. Anion formation was found to be particularly helpful in the interpretation of the spectra of carboxylic compounds. Shift assignments of some structurally related compounds could also be made.