The structure of sanguinarine free base was examined. The base is either bis[6-(5,6-dihydrosanguinarinyl)] ether (3) or bis[6-(5,6-dihydrosanguinarinyl)]amine (4) depending on whether Na2CO3 or NH3, respectively, is used as an alkalizing agent. Oxysanguinarine (5) was identified as a side product formed by disproportionation of the pseudobase intermediate 2a.
Dostal, J., Bochorakova, H., Taborska, E., Slavik, J., Potacek, M., Budesinsky, M., & de Hoffmann, E. (1996). Structure of sanguinarine base. Journal of Natural Products, 59(6), 599-602. https://doi.org/10.1021/np960356h (Original work published 1996)