RECENT ADVANCES IN SCIENCE 391 



simple transformations. As an example of this he cites the 

 synthesis of tropinone above mentioned, and further shows that 

 by the condensation of formaldehyde with diaminoacids such 

 as ornithine or lysine it is possible to account for the formation 

 of alkaloids for the pyrrolidine or piperidine groups. Thus, for 

 example, a compound of the formula III. could be formed by 

 interaction between ornithine and formaldehyde according to 

 the following equation : 



NH 2 . CH 2 . CH 3 . CH 2 . CHNH 3 . COOH -f CH 3 = 



CH 2 . CHOR 



I >NCH 3 + NH 3 + C0 2 



CH 2 — CH 3 / 

 in 



Compound III. would then, by condensation with acetone 

 dicarboxylic acid and subsequent elimination of carbon 

 dioxide, yield the alkaloid hygrine V. 



NCH s COOH 



CH 2 CHOH + CH 2 .CO.CH 2 .COOH 



Compound IV. may also be the progenitor of nicotine by 

 further condensation with formaldehyde and ammonia. Simi- 

 larly, by the application of simple reactions such as aldol con- 

 densations, oxidation, or dehydration the author is able to account 

 for the formation of such complex alkaloids as the pelletierines, 

 sparteine and the opium alkaloids belonging to the piperidine, 

 quinuclidene and isoquinoline groups respectively. It is not 

 possible within the limits of this article to do justice to this very 



