296 



therefore the optical inactivity of matter be considered a "more 

 probable state" than the non-superposable enantiomorphism of 

 the optically active molecules, - - a view strongly upheld by the 

 striking tendency for auto-racemisation of optically active matter, 

 then the materials and substances of the living world would 

 certainly have a higher degree of instability than those produced 

 outside the living organisms. In the light of the views mentioned 

 here, the significance of this becomes more evident, because the 

 matter more rapidly produced, will also be more quickly attacked 

 in the physiological processes of the organism, and these substan- 

 ces will therefore be more particularly suited for its never ceasing 

 needs. The presence of accelerating catalysts like enzymes and 

 ferments, is absolutely necessary in these assimilation-processes, 

 and the question may arise if it will likewise be possible to imitate 

 the special mode of action of these catalysts by processes such 

 as met with in one-sided synthesis? 



In point of fact, the experiments just referred to, have proved 

 this to be beyond all doubt. 



B r e d i g and F a j a n s were able to show that the use of 

 laevogyrate nicotine as a solvent with catalytic action in the 

 decomposition of d- and l-campho-carboxylic acids, had the effect 

 that the dextrogyrate acid was more rapidly decomposed into 

 camphor and carbon-dioxide than the laevogyratory antipode. On 

 the other hand, the decomposition-velocity of both isomerides 

 appeared to be identical in optically wactive solvents, such as 

 aniline or acetophenone. 



The following data may make this clear: 



Dextrogyratory campho-carboxylic Acid. 



Solvent: Velocity -constant k: 



Aniline 0,00676 



Acetophenone 0,00128 



l-Nicotine 0,00488 



Laevogyratory campho-carboxylic Acid. 



Solvent: Velocity-constant k: 



Aniline 0,00663 



Acetophenone 0,00123 



l-Nicotine 0,00434 



The velocity of decomposition of the dextrogyrate acid is about 

 13% greater than that of the laevogyr&te acid. Also the enormously 

 accelerating influence of basic solvents such as aniline, in com- 

 parison with that of different neutral solvents like acetophenone, 

 is strikingly proved by these figures: a fact which beyond all 

 doubt must be connected with the intermediate formation of a 

 compound between the basic solvent and the acid under con- 

 sideration. 



