THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



203 



Solveol — A neutral solution of cresol in 

 aqueous sodium cresj-late. This contained 23.6 

 per cent, of cresol. V. C. 



Ladophenin. — Under this title a phenetidin 

 derivative has been introduced into medicise. 

 This is a lactyl-p phenetidid C^H ^ (OCoH,) NH 

 CO.CH (OH) CH3. It forms colorless odorless, 

 crystals, of a faint bitter taste, of melting point 

 ii7.5°C. Soluble in 500 parts water at 15° C, 

 and 55 parts of boiling water. Nothing definite 

 is known as yet as to its properties and dose. 



V. C. 



Preparation of Cocaine from its Side Alkaloids. 

 — The synthetic methods for the preparation of 

 cocaine, embraces its manufacture from its side 

 or accompanying alkaloids, that is its mother 

 substance, ecgonin, or its derivatives cinnamyl 

 and isatropyl cocaine. To illustrate the relation- 

 ship of this important derivative ecgonin to 

 cocaine, the following decompositions are cited: 

 1st. Cocaine on boiling with water is broken 

 up into methyl alcohol and benzoyl ecgonin 



C,NHi„ CHO(COC6H5)CH2 COOCHg+HoO^- 

 cocaine water 



C^NHioCHOICOCsHb) CH2COOH+CH3OH 

 benzoyl ecgonin methyl alcohol 



2d. Cocaine on being heated with concentrated 

 hydrochloric acid is broken up into ecgonin, 

 methyl alcohol and benzoic acid. 



CeNHioCHO(COCBH5)CH3COOCH3+2H,0= 



C,; NHio CHOH. CH. COOH + Cg H 5 COOH+ 

 ecgonin benzoic acid 



CH3OH 

 methyl alcohol 



The synthetic methods for cocaine usually em - 

 ployed, consist in converting the cinnamyl and 

 isatropyl cocaine into ecgonin by boiling with 

 cone, hydrochloric acid, whereby they are split 

 up into the latter and organic acids. 



Ecgonin is converted into cocaine after either 

 of the following methods : 



ist. Ecgonin, on treatment with benzoyl 

 chloride, is converted into benzoyl ecgonin. 



C.NHio -CHOH. CHo COOH + Cg Hj COCl 

 = HC1 + 

 Ecgonin. Benzoyl ecgonin. 



C, NH,o .CHO (COCe H5) CH^ COOH 

 Benzoyl ecgonin. 



This benzoyl ecgonin is methylated, that is, 

 converted into cocaine by dissolving in methyl 



alcohol and passing hydrochloric acid gas 

 through the solution. 



C,; NHio .CHO (COCg Hg^ CH. COOH + 



CH3OH = Cg NHjo .CHO 

 (COCgHs) CH2 COOCH3 (Cocaine.) + H^O. 



2d. Ecgonin is dissolved in methyl alcohol, 

 and hydrochloric acid gas is passed through, 

 converting it into its methyl ester ; this, on heat- 

 ing with benzoyl chlorid is converted into its 

 benzoyl derivative or cocaine. 



If in place of methyl alcohol and benzoyl 

 chlorid other alcohols and acid haloids are 

 employed, a variety of alkylated products of 

 ecgonin may be obtained, which possess a phy- 

 siological action similar to cocaine. 



Mess. Einhorn & Willstaetter have simplified 

 the process in that ecgonin methyl ester is pro- 

 duced directly from the side alkaloids without 

 first converting them into ecgonin. These side 

 products (50 Gm.) are boiled from 3 to 4 hours 

 with a mixture of methyl alcohol (300 Gm ) and 

 Sulphuric acid (roo Gm.^ in a flask with a reflux 

 condenser. The alcohol is then distilled off"and 

 the syrupy fluid is poured into about twice its 

 volume of water, whereby the aromatic acids 

 (isatropic, truxillic. etc ) with their esters 

 separate; after removing these chloroform is 

 added to the acid fluid, saturating with potas- 

 sium carbonate, whereby the ecgonin methyl 

 ester (cocaine) separates as an oil which is taken 

 up at once by the chloroform. Cocaine can be 

 converted into its next higher homologue coca- 

 ethylin by passing a current of hydrochloric 

 acid gas for 2 hours through a boiling saturated 

 solution of cocaine in ethyl alcohol. 



NOTES HERE AND THERE. 



The Veto of Free Alcohol. — Secretary Carl- 

 isle continues firm in his refusal to recognize 

 as mandatory a law which makes no adequate 

 provision for its enforcement. There is much 

 cavilling among a class of extensive p-oducers 

 of medicinal or "othar like comp junds " over 

 the position of the Secretary relative to free al- 

 cohol, but it is a sort of wailing destined to be 

 about as effective as the cries of Coxey and his 

 army of tramp?. It is more than hinted that 

 the unaccommodating Secretary fi uds it especial- 

 ly difficult to do the impossible, because suc- 

 cess could mean the loss of |2o,ooo,ooo annually 

 of revenue, and the national treasury is not at 

 the present time gorged to an extent that would 



