1040 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



Analysis gave the following numbers: 



1. .2131 grms. of dried substance gave. 4243 C0 2 and .1440H 2 O. 

 II. .2034 '• " li " '• .0638 Ag I. 



Calculated for Found 



C 33 H 49 N0 9 CH 3 1. I. II. 



C= 54.03 54.28 



H= 7.1 7.35 



1=17.32 16.94 



Veratrine methylhydroxide, C„j H49 XOcyCH 3 OH. It was 

 found that the iodine in the veratrine methyliodide could be 

 removed by treating with sodium or potassium hydroxide. The 

 iodide was dissolved in water and dilute sodium hydroxide 

 cautiously added. The solution soon began to turn brown and 

 after several hours a complete decomposition had taken place. 

 Examination showed that two distinct substances had been 

 formed, one, a waxy substance which refused to crystallize 

 and a crystalline substance which was sparingly soluble in water. 

 The reaction seemed deep seated but is probably closely asso- 

 ciated with that given by Wright in the preparation of cevine 

 by saponification. 



A solution of the methyliodide was again treated with 

 freshly precipitated silver oxide and warmed. It was found 

 that above 45° the solution again turned brown, indicating de- 

 composition. The experiment was repeated without warming 

 the solution. Five grams of the methyliodide were placed in 

 a shaking flask with 200 cc of water, an excess of silver oxide 

 added and shaken for 12 hours at, the ordinary temperature. 

 At the end of that time a reaction seemed to be complete. The 

 silver iodide and excess of silver oxide were removed by filtra- 

 tion. An attempt to concentrate a part of the clear solution by 

 evaporating on a water bath proved unsuccessful, for between 

 40° and 65° decomposition began and in a half hour the whole 

 solution became almost black. 



A second portion of the clear solution was evaporated at the 

 ordinary temperature. At the end of three days, a residue was 

 obtained as a white granular powder. The substance proved 

 to be exceedingly unstable, turning gray and finally brown on 

 gentl}' warming. It is soluble in water, methyl and ethyl alco- 

 hols and in acetone; slightly soluble in ether and chloroform. 

 It differs materially from veratrine. It is a non- sternutatory 

 and appears to be physiologically inactive. It changes to a 

 brown mass between 80° and 90° but does not finally melt until 

 the temperature is raised to 188-190°. It contains water of 



