Ancistrotanzanine A, the First 5,3‘-Coupled Naphthylisoquinoline Alkaloid, and Two Further, 5,8‘-Linked Related Compounds from the Newly Described Species Ancistrocladus tanzaniensis # ,1

The first phytochemical investigation of the recently discovered East African liana Ancistrocladus tanzaniensis is described, resulting in the isolation and structural elucidation of two new naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, ancistrotanzanines A (5) and B (6), and the known compound ancistrotectoriline A (7). Ancistrotazanine A (5) represents a hitherto unprecedented 5,3‘-coupling type between the naphthalene and isoquinoline portions, while 6 and 7 are 5,8‘-coupled. The structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic, chemical, and chiroptical methods. Compounds 5 and 6 showed good activities against the pathogens of leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi, while 5−7 displayed moderately potent antiplasmodial activities against Plasmodium falciparum parasites.