This alkaloid is generally regarded as being identical with aconitine although it
has been considered different by Paul and Kingzett, Dunstan and Read and
Makoshi. Schultz and Liebner believed the two bases to be isomerides yieldinghe same pyraconitine. The view that the alkaloids are distinct has been
supported by the differences in crystal form found by Pope and Schwankte. For
completeness, the description given by Dunstan and Read is given below. The base forms rosettes of colourless needles and has [α] D + 20.26° (CHCI3).
Several crystalline salts have been prepared, e.g. the hydrochloride trihydrate,
m.p. 149-1 50°C; hydrobromide tetrahydrate, m.p. 172-3°C; nitrate, m.p.
173-7°C (194°C); aurichloride occurring in two forms (a) yellow prisms, m.p.
1 54-160°C and yellow rosettes, m.p. 231°C; thiocyanate, m.p. 190-2°e. The
methiodide, m.p. 224-SoC furnishes methyljapaconitine, m.p. 206°C with
dilute KOH. With AcCl, the base yields the triacetyl derivative, m.p. 166°C. Acid
hydrolysis yields acetic acid and japbenzaconine, m.p. 183°C while alkaline
hydrolysis gives acetic and benzoic acids and japaconine, m.p. 99-1 OO°C. Pro_x0002_longed heating at the melting point gives pyrojapaconitine, m.p. 167 -8°C identical with pyraconitine.
