BY MEANS OF CATALYSTS.^URElGHTO^. 5 



the presence of optically active bases, such as certain alkaloids. 

 It was foimd that not only tvas the rate of decomposition of the 

 acid greatly accelerated hy the different alkaloids, but that the 

 d- and 1- acids decomposed at different rates. By acting 

 on the raceniic acid with quinine, and quinidine, and by 

 stopping the reaction at the point where the excess of one 

 component over the lOther was greatest, Fajans was able to 

 prepare optically active solutions of the isomeric camphors and 

 the camphor carhoxylic acids. This result is similar to that 

 obtained by Dalcin'^ through the catalytic enzyme action of 

 lipase (a catalyst of unknown structure) on mandelic acid 

 ester, and constitides the first example of an asymmetric 

 division hy means of a catalyst of definite structure. 



Recently, in the physical chemical institute of this place, 

 Bredig and Fislce- have further brought about an asymmetric 

 synthesis of a nitrile by the use of optically active catalysts. 

 The reaction 



GeH^CHO + HCN = CgH^CH OH CN 

 is catalysed hy hases, and when alkaloids (in this case quinine 

 and quinidine) are used as catalysts the resulting nitrile is 

 optically active (that is the d- and 1- nitrile are foiined in 

 unequal amount), and the mandelic acid produced by the 

 saponification of the nitrile is also active. This asymmetric 

 synthesis is analogous to that of L. Rosenthalers^ with the help 

 of eniulsin. 



When solutions of hromcamphov-carhoxylic acid are heated 

 ,it is found that the acid decomposes much more rapidly than 

 similar stolutions of camphor-carboxylic acid. The decomposi- 

 tion takes place according to the equation : 



CBrCOOH CrBH 



CO CO 



It was suggested by Professor Bredig that I should study 

 the catalytic influence of alkaloids on the abov e reaction, and 



1. Dakin, H. D.: loc. cit. 



2. Bredig-, G.: Chem. Zeitung-, xxxv, 36, 324, (1911). 



3. Rosenthaler, L.: Biochem. Zeit., 14, 238, (190S). 



