Also present in Veratrum album, this closely allied alkaloid may be separated
from the preceding base by chromatography. It also yields colourless crystals
from EtOH and is laevorotatory with [α]29D&o - 39.8° (pyridine) or - 3.5° (CHCI3).
In this case, alkaline hydrolysis gives protoverine, two moles of acetic acid, one
mole of (-)-2-methylbutyric acid and one mole of 2: 3-dihydroxy-2-
methylbutyric acid. It may be distinguished from protoveratrine A by giving a
green colour with H2S04. It also forms a complex with maleic acid having m.p.
222.2°C; [α]29D&o - 27.3°.
Stoll, Seebeck., Helv. Chim. Acta., 36,718 (1953)
