PIGMENTS 



107 



"Esters 



Chlorophyll a 



Chlorophyll b 



Tribasic Isochlorophyllina Isochlorophyllini Chlorophyllina Chlorophyllini 



:ids ^ 



MgC 31 H 29 N 3 - 



COOH 



Dibasic Cyanophyllin Kubiphyllin Glaucophyllin 



adds Eryth a rSphylhn Kfrrf , TI _ M COOH Rhodophyllin 



Monobasic Phyllophyllin 



acids MgC 31 H 33 N. 4 -COOH 



Neutral 



aetiophyllin 



Decomposition of Chlorophylls by Acids. The first action of 

 dilute acids upon chlorophylls is to remove the magnesium, 

 without otherwise changing the molecule. Two hydrogens go 

 in in the place of the magnesium. Dilute acids act in precisely 

 the same way upon each of the " phyllins " shown in the above 

 scheme. In this way, a whole series of compounds, corresponding 

 to each of the chlorophylls and their alkali-decomposition products, 

 but with the magnesium lacking in each case, has been prepared. 

 Thus, 



Chlorophyll a, 



/COO-C 2 oH 3 9 

 ^-COO-CHs, 

 \(NHCO) 



becomes Phseopnytin a, 



/COO-C 2 oH 3 9 

 ^-COO-C 

 \(NHCO) 



