Strychnic acid

Strychnine is converted into strychnic acid (XXXII) under relatively mild alkaline conditions, such as sodium ethoxide in ethanol at 50° (8). Strychnic acid easily lactamizes back to strychnine by the action of hot dilute mineral acid (45). Brucine behaves in an entirely analogous manner (46). 

There are also many examples of the hydrogenolysis of the allyl ether system 3% of the tetrahydrostrychnine (LXXXVII) may be isolated from the mother liquors of the hydrogenation of strychnine to dihydrostrychnine (90) brucine behaves similarly (91). A-Acetylisostrychnic acid gives a tetrahydro derivative (LXXXVIII) (92) A-nitrosoiso-strychnic acid gives isotetrahydrostrychnine (LXXXIX) (48). 

Strychnine-N-oxide, strychnic acid Methylergometrine Dihydroergotamine N-Butylscopolamine bromide... 

N-C- is termed Na). Hydrolysis of strychnine with alcoholic sodium hydroxide cleaves the lactam grouping with the formation of the amino acid, strychninic (strychnic) acid (C2oH220N(NaH) (CO2H) (2, 47, 244). Strychninic acid, which forms a nitrosamine (2), is stable to cold mineral acid but on warming a molecule of water is lost, and the lactam of strychnine is reformed (2). 

It is a powerful base neutralizes and dissolves in concentrated HjS04 without coloration and precipitates many metallic oxids from solutions of their salts. Its salts are mostly crystallizable, soluble in H 0 and alcohol, and intensely bitter. The acetate is the most soluble. The neutral sulfate crystallizes, with 7 Aq, in rectangular prisms. The iodids of methyl and ethyl react with strychnin to produce the iodids of methyl or ethylstrychnium, white, crystalline, basic substances, producing an action on the economy similar to that of curare. When acted on by HaSOi and potassium chlorate, with proper precautions, strychnic or igasuric acid is formed. 

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