(uncorrected), and -it gave the reaction of Scherer. The identity of the 

 substance was further confirmed by the analysis. 



0.1206 gram substance gave 0.755 gm. H 2 and 0.1761 gm. CO.,. 



Found : C = 39.82 ; H = 6.97 per cent. 



For C 6 H 12 6 = 180. 



Calculated : C = 40.00 ; H = 6.66 per cent. 



The yield of inosite monophosphoric acid by this method of prepara- 

 tion is naturally very small and its isolation is a very tedious and expen- 

 sive operation. The substance can be obtained more readily and in larger 

 quantity on partially hydrolyzing phytin in an autoclave. From 500 

 grams of phytin after heating with 25 per cent, sulfuric acid in an auto- 

 clave to about 150° for 45 minutes we obtained nearly 10 grams of inosite 

 monophosphoric acid in beautiful crystalline form. The reaction mix- 

 ture is diluted with water, precipitated with barium hydroxide and fil- 

 tered. The filtrate which contains inosite and the barium inosite mono- 

 phosphate is evaporated to small bulk on the water-bath. About 2 vol- 

 umes of alcohol are added to the concentrated solution. The precipitate 

 which forms consists of barium inosite monophosphate. This is filtered 

 off and the inosite monophosphoric acid is isolated by means of the lead 

 salt and finally crystallized as described above. 



PREPARATION OF INOSITE TRIPHOSPHORIC ACID 



The wheat bran was digested over night in 0.2 per cent, hydrochloric 

 acid. It was then strained through cheesecloth and filtered. The free 

 acid in the extract was nearly neutralized by adding a dilute solution of 

 barium hydroxide until a slight permanent precipitate remained. A con- 

 centrated solution of barium chloride was added and the precipitate al- 

 lowed to settle over night. The supernatant liquid was syphoned off 

 and the residue centrifugalized. The precipitate was finally brought 

 upon a Buchner funnel and freed as much as possible from the mother- 

 liquor and then washed in 30 per cent, alcohol. For further purification 

 the substance was precipitated alternately six times from about 1 per 

 cent, hydrochloric acid with barium hydroxide (Kahlbaum, alkali free) 

 and six times with about an equal volume of alcohol. 



After this treatment the substance was obtained as a snow-white, 

 amorphous ppwder. It was free from inorganic phosphate, and bases 

 other than barium could not be detected. But it still contained oxalates. 

 The oxalates were removed as follows : The barium salt was dissolved in 

 the least possible amount of 0.5 per cent, hydrochloric acid; 5 grams of 

 barium chloride dissolved in a little water was added and the solution 

 allowed to stand for 24 hours. A heavy, white crystalline powder, con- 

 sisting principally of barium oxalate, separated slowly. This was fil- 

 tered off and the solution precipitated with alcohol, filtered, washed with 

 alcohol and ether and dried in vacuum over sulfuric acid! The above 



37 



