N-(Hydroxymethyl)ibogaine

Abstract

The title compound (systematic name: 16-hydroxymethyl-12-methoxyibogamine), C21H28N2O2, was prepared by reaction of ibogaine with a formaldehyde–acetic acid solution (pH = 4). The crystal structure of this new product, belonging to the iboga indole family, is stabilized by an intermolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond. The identity of the compound was confirmed by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques.