A novel spiro-compound derived from 2', 4'-b1s-(1, 3-dicarboxy-2-hydroxyprop-2-y1)-1', 4'- dihydroquinine has been identified as a major end-product of the irradiation of quinine in aqueous citric acid solution. 7'-(1, 3-Dicarboxy-2-hydroxyprop-2-yl) deoxyquinine and products arising from the cleavage of quinine at C-9 were also detected in the reaction mixture.
