LYCOCTONINE(Delsine)

Description

An atisine type alkaloid isolated from Delphinium consolida Linn., the base yields colourless needles of the monohydrate from aqueous EtOH. It is freely soluble in CHCl 3 or EtOH but only sparingly so in Et20, C6H6 or H20 and virtually insoluble in petroleum ether. It is dextrorotatory having [α]²⁷_D + 49.64° (EtOH). Several crystalline salts and derivatives are known, e.g. the hydrochloride monohydrate. m.p. 75°C; hydrobromide dihydrate, m.p. 88-9°C; perchlorate sesquihydrate, m.p. 68-9°C and the methiodide, m.p. 178°C. The alkaloid contains one primary and two tertiary hydroxyl groups, four methoxyl group~ and one ethylimino group. The O-acetylanthraninoyl derivative is identical with Ajacine (q.v.) and the O,N-{ -)-methylsuccinylanthraniloyl compound is me~hyllycaconitine. Like the majority of the atisine type alkaloids of A conitum and Delphinium species, the base is relatively non-toxic compared with the corresponding ester alkaloids.

References

Schultz, Bierling., Arch. Pharrn., 251, 8 (1913)
Marion, Manske., J. Arner. Chem. Soc., 69,2010 (1947)
Przybylska, Marion., Can. J. Chern., 34, 185 (1956)
Edwards, Marion, Stewart., ibid, 34, 1315 (1956)
Valenta., Chern. & Ind., 633 (1959)