The constituents of the leaves and stems of Davesia latifolia / by Frederick Belding Power and Arthur Henry Salway.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927
Date:
1914.]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The constituents of the leaves and stems of Davesia latifolia / by Frederick Belding Power and Arthur Henry Salway. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/12 (page 775)
    carbonate. The alkaline extract, on acidification, yielded a quantity (2 grams) of a crystalline solid, which was purified by re¬ crystallisation from dilute alcohol. The substance was thus obtained in glistening leaflets, melting at 120°, and was identified as benzoic acid. Isolation of Myricyl Alcohol, C30HG2O, and Hentriaco?itane}C3lHM. The ethereal solution which had been extracted with ammonium carbonate was evaporated, and the semi-solid residue dissolved in hot ethyl acetate. On cooling this solution, it deposited a con¬ siderable quantity (25 grams) of a solid, which was collected, the filtrate being set aside for subsequent examination. The solid material was fractionally crystallised from petroleum of high boil¬ ing point, the least soluble fraction (1 gram) thus obtained being then dissolved in hot ethyl acetate, and the solution decolorised by means of animal charcoal. The filtered liquid, on cooling, de¬ posited thin, colourless needles, melting at 82—83°. (Found, C = 82‘3; H = 14’2. C30H62O requires C = 82'2; H = 14’2 per cent.) This substance was thus identified as myricyl alcohol. The mother liquors from the above-mentioned fractional crystal¬ lisation were united, the solvent was removed, and the residue then heated at 140° with an equal weight of phthalic anhydride. The product of the reaction was dissolved in ether, and the ethereal solution shaken with aqueous sodium carbonate, which effected the removal of the myricyl alcohol in the form of a sodium salt of its hydrogen phthalic ester. The ethereal liquid was then washed, dried, and the solvent removed, when about 20 grams of a solid were obtained, which crystallised from ethyl acetate in glistening leaflets, melting at 67—68°. (Found, C = 85'0; H = 14'5. C31H64 requires C = 85'3; H = 14’7 per cent.) It is evident from these results that the substance is hentri- acontane. Isolation of a Phytosterol, c27h46o. The ethyl acetate filtrate remaining after the removal of myricyl alcohol and hentriacontane, as described above, was evaporated, and the residue heated with an excess of alcoholic potassium hydroxide. The mixture was then freed from alcohol, water added, and the alkaline liquid extracted with ether. About 5 grams of a reddish-yellow solid were thus obtained, which was subjected to fractional crystallisation from alcohol. The least soluble fraction melted at 73—74°, and was evidently a mixture of myricyl alcohol and hentriacontane, whereas the most soluble fraction crystallised in thin leaflets, which, after further purification from ethyl acetate.