Chemical examination of the bark of euonymus atropurpureus / by Harold Rogerson.

  • Rogerson, Harold.
Date:
[1912?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chemical examination of the bark of euonymus atropurpureus / by Harold Rogerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/18 (page 1043)
    The yield of the latter was thus equivalent to O'Ol per cent, of the weight of the drug. On keeping, it deposited a crystalline solid melting at 120°, which evidently was identical with the acid subse¬ quently isolated in much larger amount as described below. The essential oil, which possessed a pale yellow colour and pleasant odour, distilled between 120° and 160°/25 mm., and gave the colour reaction for furfuraldehyde. Non-volatile Constituents of the Extract. After the distillation of the extract with steam as above described, there remained in the distillation flask a dark-coloured aqueous liquid (A) and a quantity of a dark brown resin (B). These products, when cold, were separated by filtration, and the resin repeatedly washed with hot water until nothing further was removed, the washings being added to the original filtrate. Examination of the Aqueous Liquid (A). Isolation of Dulcitol, CcH1406. The aqueous liquid and washings were concentrated under diminished pressure, when, on cooling, a quantity of a crystalline substance separated. This was removed by filtration, and a further amount was obtained by adding alcohol to the liquid. The total amount of solid isolated was 475 grams, which is equivalent to 2'09 per cent, of the weight of ground root-bark employed. A portion of the substance was recrystallised from water with the use of a little animal charcoal, when it was obtained in large, well- defined prisms melting at 186—188°. The aqueous solution was optically inactive. (Found, C = 39‘2; H = 7'7. Calc., C = 39'6; Hi=7'7 per cent.) The substance is thus seen to be dulcitol, the occurrence of which in Euonymus bark had previously been observed. In order, however, to further characterise the above-described substance, a quantity of it was acetylated by means of acetic anhydride. The solid obtained on pouring the cooled liquid into water was collected and recrystallised from absolute alcohol, when hexa-acetyldulcitol separated in lustrous, flat needles, melting at 168—169°. (Found, C = 49 5; H = 6'3. Calc., C = 49'7; H = 6'0 per cent.) The benzoylation of dulcitol has previously been recorded by Bouchardat (Ann. Chim. Phys., 1872, [iv], 27, 163), who states that the hexabenzoyl derivative melts at 147° and sublimes at 220°. On benzoylating a, quantity of the substance by the Schotten- Baumann method,, a product was obtained which apparently was