194 The Philippine Journal of Science mr 



The compound resembles sesculin by the fluorescence in solu- 

 tion of carnelian yellow by transmitted light and of opalescent 

 blue by reflected light. The intensity of the fluorescence is 

 increased by the addition of ammonium hydroxide or other bases 

 and is changed by the addition of acids to a purplish fluorescence 

 of less intensity. Tests for nitrogen were negative. 



The compound is acid in solution and gives the blood red 

 color produced by sesculin 50 when treated with nitric acid and 

 ammonium hydroxide. A bromine product is formed when the 

 compound is treated with bromine solution at room temperature. 

 Crystallization was effected in acetic acid by warming on the 

 steam bath. The product was readily soluble in acetic acid and 

 difficultly soluble in alcohol. The dry substance reacts positively 

 for bromine and negatively for nitrogen. The melting point 

 is 235° C. with decomposition. The melting point of tribromses- 

 culetin is 240° C. (not sharp, Beilstein), while monobromsesculin 

 melts at 193° to 195° C. The compound may have been hy- 

 drolyzed to sesculetin by the above treatment and tribromsescule- 

 tin formed, or it may be the brom derivative of a different 

 compound. A brom compound prepared by treatment of an 

 acetic acid solution with bromine kept at the temperature of 

 melting ice gave a compound with a melting point of 238° C. 



An acetyl derivative formed by treatment of the compound 

 with acetic anhydride with gentle heating over a small flame 

 had a melting point of 177° C. It is readily soluble in acetic acid 

 and is thrown out by addition of water. When carefully crys- 

 tallized, it is obtained in the shape of rhombic prisms and plates. 

 The diacetyl derivative of sesculin melts at 130° C, and diacetyl 

 aesculetin melts at 133° to 134° C. 



The compound isolated from the Philippine Hymenodictyon 

 is neither sesculin nor sesculetin. We believe it to be identical 

 with ^8-methyl-sesculetin found by Schmidt 51 in the roots of 

 Gelsemium sempervirens. He describes /J-methyl-sesculetin as 

 crystallizing in colorless, odorless, tasteless needles, which are 

 soluble in ether, chloroform, and hot water. It gives a deep 

 fluorescent solution with alkalies; a yellowish red solution with 

 nitric acid, which changes to blood red on the addition of am- 

 monium hydroxide and possesses a melting point of 202° to 

 203° C. ; and a green color with ferric chloride. It reduces Fehl- 

 ing solution when warmed. With a solution of gold chloride it 

 gives a red, and with potassium permanganate a green, color. 



r,(1 van Rijn, op. cit., 288. 



"•'Schmidt Ernst, Arch. d. Pharm. (1898), 236, 324. 



