Dihydrotoxine is a mixture of three hydrogenated alkaloides of ergot spur.
(Claviceps purpurea). 10 g ergotoxine (the mixture of ergocornine,
ergocristine, ergocryptine 1:1:1) in 200 ml dioxane and 20 g Pd/BaSO4 were
stirred at a H2 pressure 10 atmospheres at 80°C for 5 hours. The catalyst was
filtered off, a filtrate was distilled to dryness in vacuum. The residue was in
chloroform dissolved and shook with aluminum oxide. The Al2O3 was filtered
off, the filtrate was crystallized after adding of hot benzene and cooling. Yield
6-8 g dihydroergotoxine. It crystallized with 1 mol of benzene. MP: 185°C.
