234 



Messrs. E. Schunck and L. Marcklewski. [Jan. 30, 



another respect the two series seem to be related. It is well known 

 that the colouring- matter of blood is a derivative of pyrrol. This 

 appears to be the case with chlorophyll also, as the following experi- 

 ment tends to show. 



When phyllotaonin or one of its ethers is heated with zinc dust, a 

 small quantity of distillate is obtained which smells strongly of pyrrol, 

 and which, on treatment with hydrochloric acid, yields a colouring 

 matter having the properties of pyrrol-red. Furthermore, when dry 

 phyllotaonin is heated, and the vapour given off is passed over a fir- 

 wood splinter moistened with hydrochloric acid, the latter acquires 

 an intense carmine colour, a reaction peculiar to pyrrol. 



The hsematoporphyrm employed by us was obtained according to 

 the method described by Kencki and Sieber.* Haeruin derived from 

 blood was converted into heeinatoporphyrin by solution in glacial 

 acetic acid and treatment with hydrobromic acid ; it was purified by 

 means of its crystallised chlor hydrate. 



On comparing the properties of the haematoporphyrin so obtained 

 with those of phylloporphyrin, it was found that the two substances 

 bore a strong resemblance to one another in some respects, and differed 

 in others. The solutions of ha3matoporphyrin in neutral solvents 

 such as alcohol and ether show the same colour and fluorescence 

 as those of phylloporphyrin. On the addition of acids they turn 

 crimson, but with alkalis they lose their brilliant colour and become 

 brownish-red. As regards their behaviour to alkalis, the two sub- 

 stances differ considerably, p hyllop orphyr in being almost insoluble 

 in aqueous alkalis, while haematoporphyrin dissolves easily therein. 

 The zinc salt of phylloporphyrin crystallises in brilliant red needles, 

 while that of haematoporphyrin cannot be made to crystallise. Again, 

 while an ethereal solution of phylloporphyrin yields crystals on evapo- 

 ration, that of haematoporphyrin gives only an amorphous mass. As 

 regards the formulae of the two substances, it may be stated, in addi- 

 tion to what has been said above, that if that of phylloporphyriu 

 be halved and one H be added, we get d 6 H 18 N 2 0, which differs from 

 that of haematoporphyrin, C 16 H 18 N 2 3 , by 20 less. The formula 

 CieHis^Q requires numbers not differing* very widely from those 

 found by analysis. 



The absorption spectra of the two substances exhibit a remarkable 

 resemblance ; one may almost say they are identical. The absorption 

 spectrum of an ethereal solution of phylloporphyrin was shown in 

 the preceding memoir, and need not therefore be again described. 

 That of haematoporphyrin in neutral solutions is precisely the same, 

 so far as regards the number and relative intensity of the bands, but 

 the latter are slightly nearer the red end than in the case of phyllo- 

 porphyrin. The spectrum of haematoporphyrin in acid solutions has 

 * ' Afchiv f. experimentelle Patliologie u. Pharcmikologie/ vol. 24. 



