30 OPTICAL ACTIVATION 



In the reaction under investigation, we have good reasons 1 

 for supposing that the acceleration in the presence of a base 

 depends on the formation of a salt, which is much less stable 

 than the acid itself, and which readily breaks up again into 

 CO 2 , bromcamphor, and free base, the latter being free to 

 unite with more acid. With regard to any objections that may 

 be raised to the theory of a catalytic action by the base, on the 

 grounds of the mechanism of the reaction, it may be emphasized 

 that an intermediate reaction between the acid and catalyst 

 constitutes .one of the oldest and commonest types of catalytic 

 processes. With truth it may be held that our reaction is just 

 as much a catalytic process as, for example, the accelerating 

 influence of molybdic acid on the velocity of oxidation of 

 hydriodic acid by hydrogen peroxide 2 , in which reaction there 

 takes place the following steps: 



r)H 

 I MoO, < + HA - MoO, < Q _ + H. 2 



^ 



II. MoO, + 2 HI = H 2 + J,, + H 2 MoO 4 



O OH 



We see then that the action of quinine and quinidine 

 conforms in every way to the above definitions of catalysis, and 

 that therefore we are justified in claiming that our reaction is a 

 catalytic process; and further, that the optical activation of the 

 inactive bromcamphor-carboxylic acid has been accomplished 

 by means of optically active catalysts. 



SPECIFICITY OF CATALYSTS. 



The analogies between enzyme action and the action of 

 ordinary catalysts are so numerous that the former bodies also 

 are now generally looked on as a type of catalyst 3 . One of the 

 most interesting of recently discovered analogies between these 

 substances is to be found in their behavior towards certain 



1. Creighton. H. J. M.: Dissertation, Zurich, 1911, p. 58 et seq. 



2. Brodie, J.: Zeit. f. phys. Chemie, 37, 257, (1901). 



3. Creig-hton, H. J. M.: Dissertation, Zurich, 1911, p. 88 et seq. 



