108 CHEMISTRY OF PLANT LIFE 



/COO 

 Chlorophyll 6, MgC 3 iH 2 90 2 N4< 



\COO- CH 3 , 



/COO C2() 



becomes Phseophytin b } C^Hsc^^^ 



X COO-CH 3 



Similarly, 



Isochlorophyllin a, becomes Phytochlorin e, 

 Chlorophyllin a, becomes Phytochlorin /, and g, 



/COOH 



C 32 H 3 20N4< 



\COOH 



Isochlorophyllin b, becomes Phytorhodin g 

 Chlorophyllin b, becomes Phytorhodin i and k, 



/COOH 

 C 32 H 3 o0 2 N4< 



X COOH 



And bodies known as " porphyrins " are similarly derived from 

 all the other known phyllins. 



For example: cyanophyllin, MgC 3 iH3 2 N4(COOH)2, becomes 

 cyanoporphyrin, C3iH3 4 N4(COOH)2; a?tiophyllin, MgC 3 iH34N4, 

 becomes setioporphyrin, CsiH36N4, etc. 



Phytochlorin e and phytorhodin g are the chief products of the 

 decomposition by acids of the chlorophylls. Indeed, it was the 

 production of these compounds which led to the discovery of the 

 existence of the two chlorophylls. When treated with alkalies, 

 they lose their carboxyl groups and become setioporphyrin. 



Decomposition of the Chlorophylls by Oxidation and Reduc- 

 tion. When acted upon by oxidizing agents, such as chromic acid, 

 the porphyrins yield two chief oxidation products, which are 

 pyrrole derivatives having the following formulas, 



CH 3 C CO V CH 3 C CO V 



II >NH || >NH 



CH 3 CH 2 C CO/ HOOC CH 2 CH 2 C CO/ 



Methylethylmalein imide Hsematinic acid imide 



