The genus Kopsia belonging to Family Apocynaceae is well
known as a rich source of indole alkaloids that often possess unusual
skeletons and significant bioactivities,1–7 many of which are
intriguing targets of total synthesis.8–11 In our continuing chemical
studies of novel and bioactive alkaloids,12–16 we have reported the
structural elucidation of several unusual alkaloids isolated from
the crude base of the aerial part of Kopsia arborea native to Yunnan
Province in China.17–20 Further purification of the crude base of this
plant has led to the discovery of a new pyridone-containing Strychnos
alkaloid. We herein describe the structural elucidation of the
alkaloid by means of chemical conversion from strychnine.