The isolation and structure determination of cryptomisrine, a novel indolo[3,2-b]quinoline dimeric alkaloid from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta

The isolation and structure determination of cryptomisrine, a novel indolo[3,2-b]quinoline dimeric alkaloid obtained from extracts of the roots of the Ghanaian medicinal plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is reported. The structure determination was made via a consideration of the spectral data, including uv, ir, nmr, and mass spectra. In particular, one-dimensional proton/carbon nmr, one-dimensional nOe difference nmr, and a series of homonuclear (COSY) and inverse-detected heteronuclear two-dimensional (HMQC, HMBC) experiments were utilized, as well as high resolution FABMS. Cryptomisrine is most unusual in that its two monomeric parts apparently exist in such a C2 symmetric environment that only one set of proton and carbon nmr resonances are observed. Cryptomisrine is the first example of a dimeric indolo[3,2-b]quinoline alkaloid to have been isolated from nature.