Chemical examination of the barks of Brucea antidysenterica, Lam., and Brucea sumatrana, Roxb / by Arthur H. Salway and Walter Thomas.

  • Salway, Arthur H. (Arthur Henry)
Date:
[1907?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Chemical examination of the barks of Brucea antidysenterica, Lam., and Brucea sumatrana, Roxb / by Arthur H. Salway and Walter Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Inasmuch as the last-mentioned bitter principle had only been obtained in the form of an amorphous powder, it was deemed of interest to ascertain whether any simple derivative of it could be obtained in a crystalline state. Attempts were, therefore, made to prepare acetyl and benzoyl derivatives, respectively, but in both cases the substance was recovered in an apparently unchanged condition. The aqueous liquid which had been extracted with chloroform, as above described, was treated with basic lead acetate, which produced a voluminous yellow precipitate. This was collected, washed, suspended in water, and decomposed by hydrogen sulphide, but it finally afforded only a dark brown uncrystalliz- able syrup, which gave no colouration with ferric chloride. The filtrate from the basic lead acetate precipitate was treated with hydrogen sulphide for the removal of the lead, filtered, and concentrated under diminished pressure. It then formed a dark brown syrup, from which a small amount of a crystalline substance separated ; this was found to consist of a mixture of potassium chloride and nitrate. The syrup, even after heating with hydrochloric acid, did not reduce Fehling’s solution. When heated with caustic alkali it evolved ammonia, and therefore probably contained protein substances. Extract obtained with Hot Alcohol.—This product was re-dis¬ solved in hot alcohol, and the solution filtered. On cooling, a quantity of a light brown, amorphous, resinous substance separ¬ ated. This was collected on a filter, then mixed with prepared sawdust, the mixture dried, and extracted successively in a Soxhlet apparatus with petroleum, chloroform and alcohol. (a) Petroleum Extract.—This was a light green, fatty solid, amounting to 5 Gin. (b) Chloroform Extract.—This was a dark brown, friable resin, amounting to 12 Gm. (c) Alcohol Extract.—This was also a dark brown resin, amount¬ ing to only T2 Gm. The petroleum extract (a) was hydrolyzed with an alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. The product, after the removal of the alcohol, was mixed with water, and the alkaline liquid extracted with ether. This removed a very small amount of a substance which, after recrystallization from alcohol, and finally from ethyl acetate, was obtained in colourless crystals, melting at 75° C. The melting point of this substance agrees with that of the hydrocarbon pentatriacontane, C35H72, but the amount was insufficient for analysis.