SYNTHETICAL DRUGS 585 



those of the naturally occurring base. In carrying out this 

 synthesis, catechol (XXXVII.) (ortho-dihydroxybenzene) is 

 treated with chloroacetic acid, CrLCl.CCXH, 



OH OH OH 



OH 



n 



OH 



OH 



CO . CH..C1 CO . CH, . NH . CH 3 



XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. 



the resulting chloroacetylcatechol (XXXVIII.) is then allowed 

 to interact with methylamine, whereby methylaminoacetyl- 

 catechol (XXXIX.) is produced. This substance when reduced 

 is converted into synthetical suprarenine, XXXVI. This base, 

 which is sold in the form of an aqueous solution of its hydro- 

 chloride with sodium chloride, can be obtained much more 

 cheaply than the naturally occurring substance. It is, moreover, 

 stable in these circumstances, whereas the natural product 

 undergoes decomposition fairly rapidly. It may be pointed out 

 in passing that this very active drug has received at least three 

 different names — viz. adrenaline, epinephrine, and suprarenine. 



Iodoform Substitutes 



Space does not admit of more than a brief reference to the 

 synthetical products advocated as substituents for the powerful 

 antiseptic, iodoform, CHI 3 . 



Isoform (Meister, Lucius & Briming) is para-iodoxyanisole, 

 CH3O . C 6 H 4 . I0 2 , a substance which is applied either as a 

 dusting powder or in the form of paste ; it is prepared from 

 para-anisidine, CH 3 . C 6 H 4 . NH 2 , by converting this base suc- 

 cessively into its diazo-salt and then into para-iodoanisole, 

 CH3O . C 6 HJ. This product is treated with chlorine, the di- 

 chloride hydrolysed into the para-iodosoanisole, CH 3 . C 6 H 4 . IO, 

 and then the last compound heated in steam, whereby equivalent 

 proportions of para-iodoanisole and para-iodoxyanisole are 

 obtained. 



Aristol is an iodo-thymol, whereas europhen is isobutyl ortho- 

 cresol iodide ; both of these are recommended by the Bayer 

 Company as iodoform substitutes. 



Uric Acid Solvents 



The treatment of gouty disorders with lithium salts has been 

 almost superseded by the application of various synthetical 



