The structures of nitidine (Ia; 8, 9-dimethoxy-5-methyb 2.3-methylenedioxybenzo [0] phenanthridinium hydroxide) and related alkaloids isolated from various plant extracts (l-ll) were initially elucidated by chemical conversion, substantiated by synthesis of dihydronitidine (l2, l3), and confirmed by nmr studies (I4). Uther related alkoxybenzo [c] phenanthridines such as chelerythrine (15), sanguinarine (I6), bocconoline (17), ...