Alchorneine

Alchorneine
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name (2R)-1-Methoxy-7,7-dimethyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,2,3,7-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine
Identifiers
CAS Number	28340-21-8;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	3683166;
PubChem CID	217611;
UNII	EZ8Q3SE26S ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50276915 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C12H19N3O/c1-9(2)10-8-14-7-6-12(3,4)13-11(14)15(10)16-5/h6-7,10H,1,8H2,2-5H3 Key: RCNXAKUMTKVCLL-UHFFFAOYSA-N; InChI=1/C12H19N3O/c1-9(2)10-8-14-7-6-12(3,4)13-11(14)15(10)16-5/h6-7,10H,1,8H2,2-5H3 Key: RCNXAKUMTKVCLL-UHFFFAOYAY;
	SMILES CC(=C)C1CN2C=CC(N=C2N1OC)(C)C;
Properties
Chemical formula	C12H19N3O
Molar mass	221.304 g·mol−1
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Alchorneine is an imidazopyrimidine alkaloid^[1] found in trees in the genus Alchornea such as Alchornea castaneifolia, Alchornea floribunda or Alchornea cordifolia. This alkaloid causes certain nerve cells to be paralyzed, which has potential use as a purgative or pain reliever.^[2] It is used to create a tonic in traditional Western African medicine.^[3]

References

↑ Buchi, George; Rodriguez, Abimael D.; Yakushijin, Kenichi (1989). "Syntheses of (+/-)-alchorneine and (+/-)-isoalchorneine". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 54 (19): 4494–4496. doi:10.1021/jo00280a009.
↑ Schmelzer, Gaby H. (2008). Medicinal Plants. PROTA. pp. 57–62. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
↑ Rätsch, Christian (2005). The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications (ebook). ISBN 9781594776625. Retrieved June 19, 2026.

[1] Buchi, George; Rodriguez, Abimael D.; Yakushijin, Kenichi (1989). "Syntheses of (+/-)-alchorneine and (+/-)-isoalchorneine". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 54 (19): 4494–4496. doi:10.1021/jo00280a009.

[2] Schmelzer, Gaby H. (2008). Medicinal Plants. PROTA. pp. 57–62. Retrieved June 19, 2026.

[3] Rätsch, Christian (2005). The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications (ebook). ISBN 9781594776625. Retrieved June 19, 2026.

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