41 



Without any doubt the first step is to examiné the way 

 in which the alcaloids originale in the leaves. wether and 

 which simpler substances are used for the building up of 

 the alcaloid- molécule or wether the alcaloids are décom- 

 position products of higher bodies f. e. of proteids. 



The first question arising is wether a synthesis of alca- 

 loid by the plant cornes within the range of possibility. 

 G-enuine alcaloids are bodies t 1 ) containing a pyridin 

 nucleus, they consequently belong to the groupe of the 

 pyridin derivatives! 



The first question to be answered is consequently: is the 

 plant theoretically able to fo'rm a pyridin îlucleus. NôW 

 according to Pictet ( 2 ) py ridons (lower pyridin -derivatives) 

 can be formed from pyrons and ammoniac at the ordinary 

 température. Pyron derivatives now occur in the plants 

 f. e. meconic acid in Papaver somniferum, and chelidonic 

 acid in Chelidonium majus and Helleborus alba. 



Another pyron derivative is cumalic acid; this, it is true 

 lias not beea demonstrated in the plant but as it can easi- 

 ly be made from mallic aoid( 3 )one of the most common 

 plants -acids, this is no objection for our purpose. Even if 

 it lias not been overlooked in the plant it can be pré- 

 sent as a transitory condition only, arising during Chemi- 

 cal transformations taking place in the plant. 



We can therefore say tfoxt a synthetical formation ôf pyri- 

 din-derivatives from mallic acid and ammoniac does not be- 

 long to tliosc processes which a priori must be considered im : 

 possible for the plant. 



It could be doue in this way. 



f 1 ) For particulars I must refer the reader to the Dutch text. 



( 2 ) La structure chimique des alcaloïdes végétales. 



( 3 ) Vide. Richtee. Org. Chemie, 5th Edition 1888 p. 537. Of course as mallic 

 acid çontains but 4 C atoms not arranged in a ring; at least 2 molécules 

 arc necessary for this. See further Berl. Ber. 17 p. 936 and 2385. 



