Reactive behavior of isoquinoline alkaloid in a green reduction process assisted by ionic liquids and solvent-free techniques

The green reduction of berberine (BBR) to tetrahydroberberine (THB) and dihydroberberine (DHB) was realized via ionic liquid (IL)-assisted and solvent-free synthetic technologies; and the reactive behaviour and mechanisms under related conditions were investigated in detail. In particular, a reaction in a tablet was realized through a pressing method for the first time. The performances of ten Bronsted acidic ILs in three series together with four solid-phase reactive technologies were comprehensively compared.