以重氮甲烷處理4級aporphine 型生物鹼可同時得到methine與isomethines鹽基及bismethine化合物。此種反應可用其反應機構加以說明。另外,aporphine N-oxide類生物鹼加熱處理時容易產生Cope elimination 而形成Hydroxylamine類化合物。由此反應之生成物可進一步推定aporphine與pheanthrene生物鹼在植物體內之生合成的關係。
Methine and isomethine bases and bismethine compounds can be derived together from the treatment of excess diazomethane on quaternary aporphine alkaloids. The result of this reaction can be described as the E2 mechanism. Heat treatment of aporphine N-oxides produces Cope Climination and forms phenanthene hydroxylamine derivatives. The biogenetic pathway from aporphines to phenanthrenes can be elucidated by this reaction.