GRINDING-INDUCED POLYMORPHISM IN THE APORPHINE ALKALOID MAGNOFLORINE

The aporphine alkaloid magnoflorine iodide was isolated from the plant Thalictrum thalictroides. Comparison of its solid state IR spectrum w ith an authentic standard revealed a change in the spectrum of the sta ndard which was dependent upon the amount of grinding used in preparin g the halide pellet. Four possible causes of these IR spectral changes can be considered: ion exchange with the metal halide, absorption of atmospheric moisture, a chemical reaction on the surface of the KI, or a polymorphic transition. The most likely cause of the observed alter ations in the IR spectrum is a change in crystalline structure caused either by grinding or by recrystallization. This is the first report o f polymorphism in magnoflorine. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Lt d