Selective N-Demethylation of galanthamine to norgalanthamine via a non classical Polonovski reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)01097-6

The previously unknown N-demethylation of galanthamine 1 to norgalanthamine 3 was selectively accomplished by a non classical Polonovski reaction using iron salts. This transformation constitutes the first example of the application of the Polonovski reaction to an N-oxide of a seven membered cyclic amine. Norgalanthamine is a valuable intermediate in new Solanthamine derivatives synthesis.