- 3 - 
On long standing at roon temperature, or in 3 to 5 days rrhen heated 
in a sealed tute at 200*^, anabasine auto-racemizes with a corres^oonding 
drop in totation. 
Vapor pressure : Log Pm.m. = 7.2423 - 2416.14 T^ (i:elson, 85). 
--it 100° the vapor pressure is 6 rm. of mercury, 
Anabasine is the only alkaloid that was synthesized before it was 
foimd in nat-ore. Its synthesis from pyridine was effected by C. E, Smith 
(133) in 1929 and was fully dc3cribed by him (134) in 1931. Because of 
its close resemblance to nicotine. Smith called s:,Tithetic anabasine neo- 
nicf.tine. 
The Hussian chemist Crekhov (90) in 1929 reported the isolation of 
the natural alkaloid from a weed belonging to the sugar beet family 
(Chenopodiaceae) . This weed, called Anabasis aphylla , is indigenous to 
the steppes of the Caspian region, T-orkestan, and Transcaucasia. Because 
of this source the alkaloid was called aiiabasine. In 1935 Smith (138) 
found anabasine in an American weed belonging to the Solanaceae, namely 
Hi cot i ana glauca B , Grah. , Itnown in the Southwestern States as tree 
tobacco . 
Anabasine is of interest to the entomologist because it is a potent 
insecticide, ^hen sprayed upon certain species of aphids it is reported 
to be four or five times as toxic as nicotine. 
The purpose of this review is to call attention to the promising 
results that have been obtained with anabasine in combating certain 
insects and to stimulate the American production of this alkaloid so that 
it may again be commercially available in this country. 
Anabasine is reported as being manufactured by the Staat lichen Alka- 
loid Pabrik zu Tzchimkent (liasalzstan) , U. S. S. 2., which is represented 
in this country by the Amtorg Trading Corporation of l-ew York. Since 
1936, however, anabasine has n'>t been obtainable in the United States. 
TI-3 GH3:,IISTRY OF AI>;ASASIIS 
Orekhov (90) in 1929 was the first to report the isolation of anaba- 
sine from Anabasis aphylla . From this subshrub, Orekhov extracted, with 
ammoniacal alcohol, a nixtiire of alkaloids. The chief of these, called 
anabasine, was purified. It is a yellov/ish oil, distillable in vacuo, 
soluble in water, and entrainable "oir steam, Oreldiov reported the 
physical constaiits to be; Boiling point 145-146° at 15 mm.; specific 
grarTity 20/0, = 1.044; optical rotation, [alpha]g°= -47021'. 
The physical constants reported by Helson (85) in 1934 and given on 
pages 2 and 3 of this publication axe believed to be more nearly accurate 
than t'lose reported by Orekhov, 
