The alkaloidal fraction of Catha edulis yielded upon repeated chromatography (-)-N-formylnorephedrine whose ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra suggested the presence of cisoid (major) and transoid forms (minor). The identity of the isolated compound was established by comparison with the major product obtained by formylating (-)-norephedrine; the minor product was found to be (-)-N,O-diformylnorephedrine.