OXYACANTHINE

The crystal structure of the title compound (IUPAC name: ,6',7-trimeth oxy-2,2'-dimethyloxyacanthan-12'-ol), C37H40N2O6, consists Of helical chains, the principal intrachain interaction being hydrogen bonding be tween the hydroxyl group and one of the amine N atoms. The molecular s tructure is analysed in detail and results are compared with those rep orted previously for structurally related tetrandrine. One heterocycle of the molecule assumes a half-boat conformation while the other exis ts in a conformation intermediate between a half-boat and a half-chair . By analogy with tetrandrine, one amine N atom is predicted to have u nrestricted access to its lone pair, whereas the other should display reduced reactivity in reactions dependent on accessibility to a lone p air.