Regioselective demethylation of aconitine
Blagbrough IS., Hardick DJ., Wonnacott S., Potter BVL.
The regioselective demethylation of aconitine has been achieved with Lewis acids. Me3SiI afforded first 18-O-desmethyl- and then 16,18-di-O-desmethylaconitine, but AlCl3/NaI gave 16-O-desmethylaconitine first. The acetate and benzoate esters survived throughout these procedures. Aconitine decomposed on treatment with BBr3. © 1994.