NUCLEAR-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PHENYLALKYLAMINE ALKALOIDS OF KHAT USING A CHIRAL SOLVATING AGENT

Nuclear magnetic resonance was used for the identification of three ma jor alkaloids in dried leaves of the khat plant, Catha edulis. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of plant extracts confirmed the pre sence of cathinone, norpseudoephedrine and norephedrine. The subsequen t addition of a chiral solvating agent, (S)-(-)- 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol, t o these NMR solutions enabled the identification of the various enanti omers of these alkaloids. Both the (S)- and (R)- enantiomers of cathin one were detected. The results from the determination of the alkaloid ratios in the dried plant material by the NMR method are compared to t hose obtained by a previously developed gas chromatographic method.