Separation of Pure Crystallized Ergot Alkaloids

Arthur Stoll and Ernst Burokhardt Basel, Switzerland February 25,1935 

It is known that by using the chromatographic adsorption-analysis, suggested by Tswett in 1906 and developed for laboratory purposes by R. Kuhn, A. Winterstein and R Karrer, it is possible to separate the dyestuffs of the leaves. For instance the preparation of chlorophylls and of carotinoids in pure state has also been realized by this method. It is further possible with the aid of ultraviolet rays, which allow to differentiate unsaturated hydrocarbons of high molecular weight from one another on account of their fluorescence, to prepare same in a very pure state. 

The present invention relates to the manufacture, separation and preparation of ergot-alkaloids in state of high purity, by subjecting mixtures of the very sensitive ergot-alkaloids to chromatographic adsorption analysis. 

Another possibility was that the amphoteric reacting alkaloids ergotamin and ergotoxin would react with the basic adsorption media. 

By subjecting the same solution to the chromatographic adsorption process, it is found that the levorotary ergotamin is retained within the adsorption column, whereas the difficultly soluble dextrorotary ergotaminin runs first through it. As the optical activity of these isomers in chloroform is very different— 

---