Decumbenine B, a 3-arylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Corydalis d
ecumbens, has been first synthesized from piperonal via 18 steps. The
key step was condensation of 5,6-(methylenedioxy)-homophthalic anhydri
de 5 with Schiff base 6. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. A
ll-rights reserved.