Description
This alkaloid has been found in both Veratrum album and V. viride Ait. It
crystallizes from EtOH in hexagonal tablets and has [α]
20D - 139° (CHC13). The
hydrochloride dihydrate has m.p. 254-6°C (dry, dec.); the sulphate is also
crystalline but the aurichloride is amorphous. Poethke has shown that the alkaloid is a secondary base, gives a nitro so derivative, m.p. 261°C, and contains five
replaceable hydrogen atoms. On boiling with dilute HCl it is hydrolyzed to (+)-
glucose and isojervine, an isomer of jervine. This latter base crystallizes with
solvent, e.g. the CHC13 adduct softens at 135-1500 C; the crystallizate with
EtOH has m.p. 114-6°C (dec.) and that with Me2CO has m.p. 110-4°C; [α]
20D -
32° (EtOH).
Chemical Properties
White crystalline powder, soluble in organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and DMSO, derived from Veratrum nigrum L.
References
Wright, Luff., J. Chem. Soc., 35,405,421 (1879)
Salzberger., Arch. Pharm., 228,462 (1890)
Poethke., ibid, 275,357,571 (1937)
Poethke., ibid, 276, 170 (1938)
Jacobs, Craig.,J. Biol. Chem., 155,564 (1944)
