Palmatine and berberine isolation artifacts.

Some 8-substituted derivatives of the protoberberine alkaloids palmatine (1a) and berberine (1b) have been prepared and investigated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy (H-1, C-13, N-15). Complete NMR data for the 8-hydroxy (2), 8-methoxy (3), 8-ethoxy (4), and 8-trichloromethyl (5) 7,8-dihydro derivatives of 1a and 1b, as well as X-ray data for 8-methoxydihydroberberine (3b), 8-trichloromethyldihydropalmatine (5a), and 8-trichloromethyldihydroberberine (5b), are presented. The physicochemical data for all of these compounds are reviewed and compared with previously published values.