Recrystallization of Lysergic Acid

Lysergic acid monohydrate crystallizes in very thin hexagonal leaflets when recrystallized from water. It decomposes at 238 degrees, but varies with rate of heating. Lysergic acid monohydrate, when dried (140 degrees at 2 mm.), forms anhydrous lysergic acid. 

Jiirg Rutschmann, Hans Kobel, Emil Schreier 

500 mg. of the crude, crystalline 6-methyl-A-8,9-ergolene-8-carboxylic acid, are heated in 10 mL. of 2N-sodium hydroxide solution for 2 hours on a water bath the hot solution is treated with active carbon and the filtrate adjusted to pH=5.5 with dilute hydrochloride acid and glacial acetic acid. After a few hours, the resulting crystalline lysergic acid is filtered off, washed with water and methanol and dried at 80° C. under vacuum. 

The lysergic acid prepared in this manner is identical with the compound described in the literature. 

Convolvulaceae is a widely distributed family of plants. I would suggest readers pick up a copy of The Botany and Chemistry of Hallucinogens and also Pharmacotheon for a more detailed look at Convolvulaceae history and constituents. The seeds of various species (Argyreia, Ipomoea, Stictocardia, and Cuscuta) have been analyzed to contain ergolines  

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