(－)-${\beta}$-Narcotine: A Facile Synthesis and the Degradation with Ethyl Chloroformate

(－)-${\alpha}$-narcotine( 1 R.9S) is one of the major bases in Papaver somniferum L.. the sourse plant for opium. while (－)-${\beta}$-narcotine(1R.9R) is a synthetic phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid. Although some advanced methods for the preparation of $\alpha$-narcotine have been developed using modified Bischler-Napieralski cyclization. the facile synthesis of $\beta$-narcotine has not further been attempted. supposingly because of its no clinical efficacy contrary to $\alpha$-narcotine having an antitussive effect. (omitted)