In order to increase the use value of lycoramine, it was dehydrogenated selectively in the presence of 9% rare earth metal hydride at 240 ℃, affording galanthamine with 45.9% yield and 97% optical purity by semi-synthesis. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, and the quantity of catalyst on the re-action were examined and discussed, respectively. The value of activation energy was given to be 77.25 kJ/mol by Arrhenius equation during the former 10 min of reaction, which belongs to chemical reaction con-trol process. The resultant product of reaction was characterized by HPLC, IR, MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR.

Key words: galanthamine, lycoramine, rare-earth catalyst, dehydrogenation