LAUSR

Cytisine and its derivatives are attractive to many researchers because of their broad spectra of biological activity, e.g., spasmolytic, insecticidal, cholinergic, analgesic, etc. [1–7]. Therefore, the alkaloid cytisine and its derivatives are promising compounds for possible modification and design of new medicines based on them. Herein the development of a convenient method for alkylating cytisine at the secondary amine is communicated. Compounds 1a,b were synthesized from cytisine and nonyl iodide and dodecyl bromide by heating the mixture at 150°C for 6 h. Prolonged refluxing in various solvents (DMSO, DMF, o-xylene) formed 1a,b in yields <20% with mixtures of unidentified side products.