478 NIACIN 



c. f)-Pyridone of N^-Methylnicoiinamide 



This compound has been prepared from coiimahc acid by ring closure 

 with methylamine.^-^ It may also be prepared by an alkaline ferricyanide 

 oxidation and subsequent treatment with SOCI2 and ammonia, using either 

 trigonelline or N^-methylnicotinamide as starting material. ^^^ 



d. Pyridine 3-Sulfonic Acid 



This substance may be prepared by the direct sulfonation of pyridine 

 with fuming sulfuric acid.^"^- ^~^- 1^° Mercury is an effective catalyst in the 

 reaction. 



E. SPECIFICITY 



The biological effect of various modifications in the nicotinic acid mole- 

 cule is discussed in Section V (p. 517). 



III. Industrial Preparation 



J. M. HUNDLEY 



The current (1952) annual production of nicotinic acid is probably in 

 excess of 2 million pounds. The latest available data^ indicate that about 

 13^ million pounds of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide were produced in 

 the United States during 1950 (Table VI). This accounts, on a weight 

 basis, for about 41 % of all vitamins produced. Since the period covered 

 by this report, two new plants for the production of nicotinic acid have 

 gone into operation.- One of these plants has an annual capacity of over 

 1 million pounds. This large production reflects a market demand stimu- 

 lated not only by the widespread use of nicotinic acid and derivatives in 

 vitamin preparations and other medicinal products but the large quantities 

 used in the enrichment of bread and cereals. 



The details of the manufacturing processes being used in the new plants, 

 referred to above, have not been revealed. However, one will base its 

 production on coal tar raw materials, presumably quinoline or /S-picoline, 



127 H. von Pechman and W. Welsch, Ber. 17, 2384 (1884). 



128 J. W. Huff, J. Biol. Chem. 171, 639 (1947). 



129 A. J. P. van Gastel and J. P. Wibaut, Rec. trav. chim. 53, 1031 (1934). 



130 G. Machek, Monatsh. Chem. 72, 77 (1938). 



1 Synthetic Organic Chemicals. U. S. Production and Sales of Medicinals. U. S. 

 Tariff Commission, Washington, D. C, 1950 (Preliminary Report published July, 

 1951). 



2 Chem. Eng. News 29, 4686, 5136 (1951). 



