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