Researches on morphine. Pt. 2 / by S.B. Schryver and Frederic H. Lees.

  • Samuel Barnett Schryver
Date:
[1901]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Researches on morphine. Pt. 2 / by S.B. Schryver and Frederic H. Lees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/22 (page 578)
    / Methi-^somorphimethine is a base and readily forms salts, the hydro¬ chloride separating from water in a beautifully crystalline form. It is only soluble in large quantities of hot ethyl or methyl alcohol, and crystallises well from either. On making aqueous solutions of its salts alkaline, it can readily be extracted by ether. Methi-i&omorphimethine Methiodide, C18H20O2N(OCH3),CH3I, was pre¬ pared in the usual way by dissolving the base in hot ethyl alcohol, and adding a weight of methyl iodide equal to that of the base taken. Almost immediately after mixing, the methiodide separated from the hot solution in the form of beautiful, long, white needles melting at 265° with slight decomposition. On analysis, the following result was obtained : 0*516 required 11*4 c.c. lY/lO AgN03 solution. 1 = 28*05. C20H26O3NI requires 1 = 27*91 per cent. A determination of the specific rotation in aqueous solution gave the following result: aD = +l°5'j 1—2 dcm.; c=l*56; [a]},7 = +34*7°. Action of Heat on Methi-isomorphimethine Methohy dr oxide. Methi-^somorphimethine methiodide (9*7 grams) was dissolved in hot water (100 c.c.), and to the hot solution silver hydroxide, freshly pre¬ cipitated from an aqueous solution of silver nitrate (3*8 grams), and subsequently well washed with water, was added. Immediate double decomposition ensued, with formation of silver iodide and the hydroxide of the base. The mixture was allowed to stand for 12 hours, when the silver iodide was filtered off, and the clear, strongly alkaline fil¬ trate rapidly evaporated over a free flame to a small bulk. As no evolution of any of the lower fatty amines took place during this con¬ centration, the dark brown syrup was introduced into a 150 c.c. flask and heated in an oil-bath at 160—170°, when bases smelling of ammonia were evolved, and the substance in the flask frothed some¬ what. It soon, however, became tranquil, ceased to evolve amines, and, on cooling, set to a hard mass. Pure ether was added, the mix¬ ture boiled for some hours, the ethereal extract filtered from a large amount of carbonaceous matter formed during the reaction, and the ether distilled off. The residue was a fluorescent, light brown oil, which quickly solidified to a crystalline mass. This was easily puri¬ fied by twice recrystallising from ethyl alcohol, from which it separated in highly lustrous, prismatic needles melting sharply at 65°. It con¬ tained no nitrogen, and was analysed, with the following results : 0*1666 gave 0*4942 C02 and 0*0686 H20. C = 80*9 ; H = 4*6. Ci5H10O2 requires C = 81*l ; H = 4*5 per cent.