338 



Dr. A. Matthiessen on the Chemical [Mar. 18. 



If the reaction 



C 23 H 23 NO,+ 2H I=C 20 H„ lfO,+2CH,I 



took place, the theoretical quantity of iodide would only be 34*3 grms. 

 and 68*7 respectively. 



The endeavours to obtain the base in a state fit for analysis have been 

 fruitless, owing to its oxidizing rapidly when exposed to the air ; to esta- 

 blish its composition, the chloride was analyzed, and led to the following 

 result :-— 



C 19 H i7 N 7 II CI. 



The base itself is, when newly precipitated, nearly white, but as soon as 

 it is exposed to the air it becomes almost black ; it is soluble in carbo- 

 nate of sodium, caustic soda, potash or ammonia, slightly soluble in hot 

 alcohol, quite insoluble in ether, and nearly so in water. All endeavours 

 to obtain it or its salts in a crystalline state have hitherto fa'led. 



The base may be called normal narcotine, or, shorter, nornarcotine, as 

 it contains, in all probability, normal meconin combined with cotarni- 

 mide. 



2. On the Action of Hydrochloric Acid on Narcotine. — When narco- 

 tine is heated with hydrochloric acid for about two hours, chloride of 

 methyl is evolved, and on examining the residue it will be found to con- 

 tain the chloride of a new base. The reaction which takes place is simply 

 that one atom of methyl in the narcotine is replaced by one of hydrogen ; 

 thus : — 



C 22 H 23 ET 7 + H Cl=C al H 21 N 7 + C H 3 CI. 



The pure base forms a white amorphous powder, almost insoluble in 

 water and ether, very; soluble in alcohol. Its salts, like those of the 

 other bases derived from narcotine, are, as far as they have been pre- 

 pared, amorphous. The base may be called dimethyl-normal-narcctine, 

 or, shorter, dimethyl-nor-narcotine. 



In the annexed Table the properties and reactions of the narcotine 

 bases are given side by side. 



Neither of the above bases has any marked physiological effects ; for in 

 working with them, as well as in taking grain doses, no ill effects have 

 been observed. It is worthy of notice that the taste of the chlorides 

 varies so markedly by the replacement of one atom of methyl by one of 

 hydrogen. 



