The constituents of bryony root / by Frederick B. Power and Charles W. Moore.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927
Date:
[1911?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The constituents of bryony root / by Frederick B. Power and Charles W. Moore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    quantity of an essential oil was obtained. This was a pale yellow liquid, which possessed a characteristic odour. The amount of this oil was, however, too small to permit of its further investigation. Non-volatile Constituents of the Extract. After the distillation of the extract with steam, as above described, there remained in the distillation flask a dark-coloured, aqueous liquid (A) and a quantity of a brown resin (B). The latter was collected, and repeatedly washed with water until nothing further was removed, the washings being added to the main portion of the aqueous liquid. Examination of the Aqueous Liquid (A). Isolation of a Crystalline, Neutral Substance, C2oH3005. The aqueous liquid (A), which amounted to 5 litres, was repeatedly extracted with ether, the ethereal extracts being then united, washed with water, and concentrated to the volume of 500 c.c. The ethereal solution so obtained was extracted succes¬ sively with dilute hydrochloric acid, aqueous ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and potassium hydroxide, which, however, only removed small quantities of resinous products. The ethereal solution was accordingly washed with water, dried, and the solvent evaporated, when a quantity of a syrupy liquid remained, from which a crystalline substance slowly separated. The mixture was diluted with ether, and the crystalline material collected. It formed small, colourless needles, melting at about 220°, and amounted to 1*5 grams. After recrystallisation from alcohol, and then again from ether, it separated in glistening needles, melting and decomposing at 220—222°: 0-1358 gave 0*3407 C02 and 0*1090 H20. 0 = 68*4; H = 8'9. After another crystallisation from ether it was again analysed : 0*1352 gave 0*3390 C02 and 0*1090 H20. 0 = 68*4; H = 8*9. C20H3o05 requires 0 = 68*6; H = 8*6 per cent. The molecular weight of the substance was determined by the cryoscopic method: 0*3688, in 22*93 of acetic acid, gave \t — 0*199°. M.W. = 315. C2oH3005 requires M.W. = 350. C16H2404 „ M.W. = 280. The substance thus appears to possess the formula C20H30O6, although the formula C16H2404 is not excluded, and it is evidently a new compound.