CHLOROPHYLL AND ENERGY 



157 



is not easy to demonstrate. If it is formed, it must be very 

 fleeting and must polymerize instantaneously before it has had 

 time to exert its toxie effect. 



This hypothesis of the synthesis of glucosides by way of 

 formaldehyde was retained for some time, although it was 

 far from satisfactory and had scarcely anything in its favour 

 but its disarming simplicity. 



In 1924, Maquenne elaborated the theory in which 

 formaldehyde had no part. He suggested that carbonic acid 

 combined with the magnesium of the chlorophyll, then 

 isomerized to pass to the peroxide form. This unstable form 

 released 2 atoms of oxygen Uberating two valencies of the 

 carbon. The same reaction was produced on all the molecules 

 of chlorophyll, and the proximity of these molecules enabled 

 the carbon chain to be elaborated as soon as the oxygen 

 liberated the valencies. The polymerization was therefore very 

 premature and the first substances formed were glucosides. 



O O 



=N\I II =NH I II 



Mg+HO-C-OH Mg-O-C-OH 



=Ny I 



=NH 



O 



-> 



Mg+HO-C-OH 



=NH 



O 



-> 



Mg-O-C-OH 



=N/ 1 



^Ny 



/O -NH 

 Mg-O-CH I Mg-O-CH+Oa 



-> 



-> 



\0 =N/ 



-> 

 /O =NH 

 Mg-O-CH I Mg-O-CH+Oa 



=N/ I \0 =N 



=NH 



==N\ 



] 



Mg HOCH 



-> 



Mg 



=Ny I 



+ 



HOCH 



