Scopolamine, hyoscine atroscine

The carbon a to the carboxyl group of tropic add is asymmetric and is easily racemized during the isolation of the solanaceous alkaloids. Atropine and atroscine are racemic forms. The corresponding levo isomers, (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine(hyoscine), occur naturally in the solanaceous plants. 

Scopolamine (hyoscine) is isolated from the mother liquor remaining after the isolation of hyoscyamine, and is marketed as its hydrobromide. Scopolamine is readily race-mized to atroscine, when subjected to treatment with dilute alkali. 

Hyoscine (Scopolamine, Atroscine), Ci,H2i04N. The name hyoscine was first used by Hohn and Reichardt for the basie hydrolytic product of hyoscyamine, now known as tropine. It was subsequently used by Ladenburg for a supposed isomeridc of atropine, Cj HjgOjN, isolated from the mother liquors of hyoscyamine. This was found by Schmidt, Hesse and others to be identical with scopolamine, Ci,H2i04N, obtained by Schmidt from Scopolia japonica. The name hyoscine has priority and is in use, but scopolamine is also employed, especially in Germany. 

---