A Gardneria alkaloid, chitosenine has recently been isolated from G. multiflora.
It forms an amorphous white powder having no definite melting point and gives
an ultraviolet spectrum in EtOH with an absorption maximum at 314 nm and a
shoulder at 259 nm. Reaction with mesyl chloride yields the monomesylate with
m.p. 161-7°C. When treated with anhydrous potassium carbonate in absolute
dimethylformamide it yields the oxilane derivative. The structure has been
elucidated from chemical analysis and spectroscopic data.
