Nor-d- -Ephedrine

Ephedrine also oeeurs in the leaves of the yew tree [Taxus baccata) and in Sida rhombifolia Linn, whilst Stockman s cathine from Catha edulis Forsk has been shown by Wolfes to be d-nor- -ephedrine. Ghosh, Chopra and Dutt state that the bark of Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn. contains two alkaloids similar to ephedrine in pharmacological action. The more active of the two, moringinine, is amorphous the other is a liquid but jdelds a crystalline hydrochloride, C,H. HCl, m.p. 254-4°, + 1-8°, a picrate, m.p. 195°, and an aurichloride, m.p. 170-8°. 

Stockmann (158, 159), isolated from the Celastraceae, CoAha edulis Forsk. has been shown by Wolfes to be d-nor- -ephedrine (160). 

Several bases, other than ephedrine and i -ephedrine, have been identified in Ma Huang. Smith found 1-iV-methylephedrine (146) and nor-d-i -ephedrine (147) in the sirupy alkaloidal residue obtained in the manufacture of ephedrine. Nagai and Kanao (149), working up thoroughly a Ma Huang extract, confirmed Smith s observations and separated another new alkaloid, d-A-methyl- f -ephedrine. Kanao (150) succeeded in isolating a sixth ephedra base, 1-norephedrine. 

According to Chen, Wu, and Henriksen, norephedrines have a strong action, comparable to that of the ephedrines nor-d- -ephedrine has a weaker action than I or dl-ephedrine, but stronger than d- f -ephedrine. 

Gibson and Levin have called attention to nor-d- -ephedrine as a useful base for the resolution of externally compensated acids,... 

D-Cathine (= 2-Amino-1-hydroxy-1 -phenylpropane Katine t t-Norephedrine Nor-i]j-ephedrine Norpseudoephedrine Pseudonorepinephrine) (phenylpropanoid) D-Cathinone (= (S)-2-Amino-1 -phenyl-1-propanone) (phenylpropanoid)... 

The separation of the six natural ephedra bases has been described by Kanao (150). /-Ephedrine was first separated as hydrochloride, then -ephedrine as the free base, /-methylephedrine as the oxalate, d-methyl-lA-ephedrine as the d-bitartrate and finally nor-d- -ephedrine, from... 

Nagai s ephedrine was obtained from Ma-Huang and the same alkaloid, together with its stereoisomeride psewdoephedrine ( -ephedrine), was isolated by Merck from the European species, E. helvetica C. A. Meyer. From commercial Ma-Huang Smith prepared two additional ba, f A7-methylephedrine and nor-d- -ephedrine. Nagai and Kanao added two more, vix., d-A7-methyI- -ephedrine and /-norephedrine, mid... 

---