The constituents of leptandra / by Frederick B. Power and Harold Rogerson.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927
Date:
[1910?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The constituents of leptandra / by Frederick B. Power and Harold Rogerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/18 (page 1948)
    small amount of an acid was obtained, which, on crystallising from water, separated in leaflets, melting at 131—133°. This acid yielded benzaldehyde on oxidation, and was identified as cinnamic acid. The ethereal liquid which had been extracted with alkali was finally evaporated, but it yielded only a trace of a deep yellow oil. The aqueous, acid liquid remaining after the distillation with steam, as above described, was separated from the hard, black, resinous mass, which weighed 5'5 grams, and shaken with ether, the ethereal liquid being subsequently extracted with a solution of ammonium carbonate. On acidifying the alkaline liquid, again extracting with ether, and removing the solvent, about O'3 gram of a crystalline product was obtained, which was found to consist of a mixture of acids. The ethereal liquid which had been extracted with alkali was finally evaporated, but it yielded only a small amount of a yellow oil, which gave a green coloration with ferric chloride. After extracting the above-mentioned aqueous, acid liquid with ether, it was treated wTith barium hydroxide for the removal of the sulphuric acid. The filtered liquid readily reduced Fehling’s solution, but no crystalline osazone could be prepared from it. From the above results it was evident that the-bitter, amorphous product, which had been obtained by extracting the original aqueous liquid with amyl alcohol, was of a complex nature, and that not more than a small proportion of it could have been glucosidic. It was, moreover, apparent that the acids which it yielded by treatment with dilute sulphuric acid were present in the form of esters, inasmuch as on heating the product with aqueous sodium hydroxide a similar mixture of acids was obtained, and in better yield. This mixture of acids was found on examination to consist chiefly of p-methoxycinnamic acid, together with smaller amounts of cinnamic acid and another compound which could not be identified. The original aqueous liquid, after being extracted with amyl alcohol as above described, was concentrated somewhat, and treated with a slight excess of a solution of basic lead acetate. A copious brown precipitate was thus produced, which was collected, well washed with water, then suspended in water, decomposed by hydrogen sulphide, and the mixture filtered. The filtrate, when concentrated, was dark reddish-brown, and appeared to contain only tannic and colouring matter. The liquid from the basic lead acetate precipitate was treated with hydrogen sulphide for the removal of the lead, and the filtered liquid concentrated to a small bulk. To the syrup thus obtained