Berberilic acid

Berberilic acid, CgoHjgOgN, m.p. 177-82°, is dibasic, and furnishes a dimethyl ester, m.p. 173°. When heated to about 180°, the acid passes into ANHYDROBERBERiLic ACID, CjgHjjOgN, colourless needles, m.p. 236°, soluble in alkali carbonate solutions with the formation of berberilates. When ammonium berberilate is dried under reduced pressure, a molecular proportion of ammonia is lost with the formation of the ammonium salt of the anhydro-acid, from which other salts, and the methyl ester, m.p. 178°, have been obtained. Berberilic acid is hydrolysed by hot dilute sulphuric acid to hemipinic acid (I) and oi-aminoethylpiperonylic acid (II), large tabular crystals, m.p. 180-2°. Berberilic acid is therefore represented by (III). 

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