From a commercial source of aconitine, ''Aconitine Potent Merck'', iso
lated from Aconitum napellus L., Lot No. 30169, a new minor norditerpe
noid alkaloid, ''merckonine'' has been isolated. Structure (1) for the
new alkaloid was assigned on the basis of its physical and spectrosco
pic data and synthesis from aconitine. The known alkaloids 3-deoxyacon
itine, aconitine and mesaconitine were also isolated in pure form from
this commercial source.