The occurrence of this alkaloid in the cigar type of tobacco has been reported by
Wenusch and subsequently confirmed by Spath and Kesztler. It forms a colour_x0002_less oil when pure and yields crystalline salts and derivatives, e.g. the p1atinichloride, m.p. 158°C; picrate, m.p. 170-1 °c and the methiodide, m.p. 2l1-3°e.
It may also be prepared from nicotine by oxidation with silver oxide, silver
acetate or potassium ferricyanide. With Zn and HCI, the base is reduced to nicotine and 4:5-dihydronicotyrine, b.p. 244-6°C, yielding a dipicrate, m.p. l64°e.
In the presence of prepared Pt02, the latter may be further reduced to dihydrometanicotine, the dipicrate of which has m.p. 161-2°C. Nicotyrine may be converted directly into nicotine in one operation by controlled hydrogenation in the
presence on Pd-e
Cahours, Etard., Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr., 34, 449 (1880)
Pictet, Crepieux., Ber., 28, 1904 (1895)
Pictet, Crepieux., ibid, 33, 2355 (1900)
Wibaut, Oberhoff., Rec. trav. Chim., 47,935 (1928)
Wenusch., Biochem. Zeit., 275,361 (1935)
Spath, Kesztler., Ber., 70,2450 (1937)
Spath, Wibaut, Kesztler., ibid, 71, 100 (1938)
