Antiprotozoal Spirombandakamines A1 and A2, Fused Naphthylisoquinoline Dimers from a Congolese Ancistrocladus Plant.

From the leaves of a yet undescribed Congolese Ancistrocladus species, two novel naphthylisoquinoline dimers, spirombandakamines A1 (1) and A2 (2), were isolated, together with a new, but "classical" dimer, mbandakamine B2 (3). The cage-like stereostructures of 1 and 2 were established by combining spectroscopic, chemical, and chiroptical methods with quantum-chemical ECD calculations. Their unique molecular frameworks may originate from "open-chain" dimers, such as 3, by an oxidation-induced cascade of reactions. They possess strong antiprotozoal properties.