102 AROMATIC COMPOUNDS [ch. 



products, and may be obtained on decomposition of such complexes by 



fusion with strong alkali, etc. 



OH 



/\ 



OH 



OH ' OH OH 



Resorcinol Catechol Quinol 



Quinol has been found in the free state in the leaves and flowers 

 of the Cranberry ( Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea). As a glucoside, known as 

 arbutin, it occurs in many of the Ericaceae (see also p. 166). 



Phloroglucinol is the only member of the trihydroxy phenols found 

 uncombined in plants. It is very widely distributed in the combined 

 state in various complex substances (Waage, 23). 



/NoH 



HO 



K/ 



OH 



Phloroglucinol 



Inositol and Phytin. 



Inositol is widely distributed in plants, especially in young leaves 

 and growing shoots. It has been isolated from leaves of the Walnut 

 (Juglans regia), fruit of the Mistletoe ( Viscmn album) and the unripe 

 seed-pods of various plants. It is a polyhydric alcohol derived from 

 benzene: 



HOH 



/^\ 



HOHC CHOH 



HOHC CHOH 

 HOH 



Inositol is soluble in water but crystallizes out on adding strong 

 alcohol. It occurs also in seeds as the compound, phytin. The latter 

 is an acid calcium and magnesium salt of inositol phosphoric acid which 

 is a condensation product of inositol with six molecules of phosphoric 

 acid (Plimmer and Page, 21). An enzyme, phytase, also occurring in 

 seeds is able to hydrolyze phytin into inositol and phosphoric acid 

 (Plimmer, 20). 



