Ancistroguineines A and B as well as ancistrotectorine-naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from Ancistrocladus guineënsis.

The isolation of three naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from the leaves of Ancistrocladus guineensis is described. Their complete structures were established by spectroscopic, chiroptical and degradative methods. Thus, two hitherto unknown 5,8'-coupled naphthylisoquinolines, named ancistroguineines A and B, were isolated, constituting the first example of a pair of 3-epimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids. Moreover, ancistrotectorine, a 7,3'-coupled alkaloid previously known only from the South-East Asian species Ancistrocladus tectorius, was isolated. Its absolute stereostructure was confirmed by oxidative degradation and by comparison of experimental and calculated CD spectra. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.