Pyridine Derivatives and Alkaloids

The pyridine ring is easily reducible. Hydropyridines are formed from pyridine and its derivatives, and piperidines by complete hydration. Quinoline and acridine are also easily converted into hydro-compounds. 

These reductions can easily be obtained with the electric current under suitable conditions the alkaloids, which have a pyridine nucleus, also behave analogously. 

Pyridine.—Ahrens1 accomplished the electrolytic reduction of pyridine and the derivatives of pyridine, and obtained piperidine from pyridine, and a-pipecoline from a-picoline. In these electrolyses lead cathodes and 10% solutions of sulphuric acid were employed. 

If strong sulphuric acid and a platinum cathode are used there is formed a substance containing nitrogen and sulphur, the chemical nature of which has not yet been determined. 

Benzoylpiperidine.—On the occasion of their experiments regarding the reduction of acid amides, Baillie and Tafel,2 by electrolytical reduction in sulphuric acid at a lead cathode, converted benzoylpiperidine into benzylpiperidine and obtained a yield of 77 per cent, of the latter compound. 

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