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.

    8/18 (page 1045)
    The above-described substance was found to be a monocarboxylic acid, and evidently possesses the formula C5H403. It is isomeric with pyromeconic acid (m. p. 122°) and with furan-a-carboxylic acid (m. p. 132—133°), but not being identical with either of these substances it is evidently a new compound, and must be furan-f3- carboxylic acid. It is hoped to confirm this conclusion by the synthesis of the last-mentioned acid. Furan-jS-carboxylic acid is sparingly soluble in cold water, but readily soluble in hot water, ethyl acetate, and alcohol. Its aqueous solution gives no colour with ferric chloride. The acid is volatile in steam, and sublimes at 110°. Silver Furan~$-carb oxylate, C5H303Ag.—This salt was obtained as a white, granular powder: 0'0888 gave 0*0436 Ag. Ag = 49T. C5H303Ag requires Ag = 49’3 per cent. Methyl Furan-&-carboxylate, C6H603.—This derivative of the acid was prepared by dissolving the latter in methyl alcohol, and saturating the solution with dry hydrogen chloride. It was a colourless liquid, boiling at 160° under the ordinary pressure, and possessed an odour very similar to that of methyl benzoate: 0*1688 gave 0*3512 C02, and 0*0768 H20. C = 56*7; H = 5*0. C6H603 requires C = 57*l; H = 4*8 per cent. The density and refractive index of methyl furan-/3-carboxylate were determined, with the following result: DJJ =1*1744; —1*46759. It was deemed of interest to compare the above-described constants with those of methyl furan-a-carboxylate (methyl pyromucate), and for this purpose a quantity of the last-mentioned ester was prepared from a pure specimen of pyromucic acid (m. p. 133°). The product was a colourless liquid, boiling at 181° under ordinary pressure, and possessing an odour which slightly resembled that of methyl benzoate. This ester had D\| = 1*1739; =1*48599 (compare Gennari, Gazzetta, 1894, 24, [i], 253). Stenhouse (Trans., 1872, 25, 298) has described an acid (m. p. 130°), which he regarded as /3-pyromucic acid. This was prepared from an aldehyde obtained from various species of Fucus, which he termed “ fucusol.” No doubt can be entertained, however, that the acid described by Stenhouse was really somewhat impure pyromucic acid. The original ethereal liquid, after treatment with ammonium carbonate as described above, was extracted with solutions of sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide respectively, but only traces of amorphous material were thus removed.