Ergotic acid

Several chemical compounds may cause inflammation or constriction of the blood vessel wall (vasoconstriction). Ergot alkaloids at high doses cause constriction and thickening of the vessel wall. Allylamine may also induce constriction of coronary arteries, thickening of their smooth muscle walls, and a disease state that corresponds to coronary heart disease. The culprit is a toxic reactive metabolite of allylamine, acrolein, that binds covalently to nucleophilic groups of proteins and nucleic acids in the cardiac myocytes. 

For the detection of the ergot alkaloids 0.2 g o-phthalaldehyde in 100 ml cone, sulfuric acid ( ) [15] or buffer solution is employed as spray solution. Cysteine [11, 12, 15, 19] or sulfurous acid [17] is occasionally substituted for mercapto-ethanol. 

These urethanes and the amino-compounds described above do not isomerise or racemise like the lysergic acids and the ergot alkaloids, which is taken to indicate that the carboxyl group at C is an important factor in this reaction. 

Pharmacological Action. Certain of the simple amines and amino-acids found in ergot are pharmacologically active and have some influence on... 

Mutterkom, n. ergot. -pUz, m. ergot fungus, -saure, /. ergotio acid, -vergiftung, /. ergotism. 

Transformation of bromocriptine free base 2 into water soluble salt -mesylate, is the only way to obtain a suitable therapeutical form. Crystallization of mesylate using alcohol as a solvent in the presence of excess of strong acid, e.g. methanesulphonic acid can induce formation of 12 -0-alkyl-derivative 2. Until now this derivatisation of ergot molecule has been practically unknown. In continuation we developed the preparative method for obtaining these compounds, (using tetrafluoroboric acid as a catalyst) (ref. 20). 

By extraction of Secale cornutum (ergot) with e. g. benzene (1. step extraction of the neutral substances from the slightly acidic cellular substtince 2. step extraction of the ammonia alkaline substance). 

The designation Van Urk s reagent can be traced back to a publication in 1929 [7] which describes the detection of ergot alkaloids with 4-(dimethylamino)-benzadehyde in aqueous solution by cautiously underlayering with concentrated sulfuric acid. 

Dimethylamino)-benzaldehyde reacts in acidic medium, e.g. with the indole ring of cyclopiazione or ergot alkaloids and forms a cyanin dyestuff by electrophilic substitution in the 2-position followed by the elimination of water [12, 17]. 

Note It is possible to differentiate amino acids by color on the basis of the markedly different shades produced [2, 3]. Proline and hydroxyproline, that only react weakly with ninhydrin, also yield pink-red colored derivatives [2]. Ergot alkaloids and LSD are detected by spraying with 10% hydrochloric add and then heating to 110°C for 20 min after they have been treated with the reagent [9]. Ergot alkaloids and LSD yield red to purple zones when treated in this manner other alkaloids, e.g. reserpine, emetine, quinine, strychnine, pilocarpine, atropine, scopolamine, cocaine and opium alkaloids, do not give a reaction [9]. 

The important but unusual fatty acid ricinoleic acid, or 12-hydroxyoleic acid, is a major component of castor oil (>87%) and is also found in useful quantities in ergot. The metal salts of the acid find use in dry-cleaning soaps but the majority is converted to aminoundecanoic acid (Scheme 6.6) which is used to make nylon 11. Nylon 11 has very good chemical and shock-resistance properties, which have led to it being used in the automotive industry. Ricinoleic triglyceride is initially transesterified to the methyl ester. This is heated to 300 °C at which temperature it is... 

Buspirone, lithium, and ergot alkaloids ° Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)... 

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