516 
PROFESSOR W. N. HARTLEY ON THE 
cinchonine by Wischnegradsky, Wejdel, Kgenigs. and Skraup, in all of which a 
more or less modified quinoline nucleus plays a part. Spectrum observations cannot 
at present decide upon the respective merits of them formulae. 
The constitution of the opium bases. 
It is easy to see that the opium bases, morphine, codeine, and their derivatives, 
apomorph ine-liy drochloride, di-acetyl-codeine, and tetra-acetyl-morphine, all have a 
similarly constituted nucleus. This nucleus is a benzene or a pyridene derivative, 
as shown by the absorption band, extending from about wave-length 3000 to 2600; 
the effect of alkyl and acetyl substitutions upon the curve of absorption is well 
exemplified by codeine, and the acetylated derivatives of codeine and morphine. 
In apomorphine-hydrochloride the intensity of the general absorption is greatly 
increased, but the position of the band is but little altered, as it lies within wave¬ 
lengths above mentioned. 
In the greatly increased length of the curve of thebaine, we have evidence which is 
not in harmony with the comparatively simple formula C ig H 31 N0 3 . The substances 
narceine, narcotine, and oxvnarcotine are all considered to be derivatives of hemipinic 
acid (Wright and Beckett, J. Chem. Soc., vol. xxviii., p. 629, and vol. xxix., p. 461), 
the relationship between the substances being expressed by the following formulae :— 
Hemipinic acid. 
CO.OH 
CO.OH 
O.CHg 
O.CHo 
(W 
Narceine. 
(C 13 H 20 NO 4 ) 
j 
CO 
I r co.oh 
c 6 hJ o.ch, 
L o.ch 3 
Narco tine. 
(C n H n (CH 3 )N0 3 ) 
CO 
| ( COH 
C 6 HJ O.CHg 
L O.CHg 
Oxynarcotine. 
(C 11 H n (CH 3 )N0 3 ) 
I 
CO 
I r co.oh 
c 6 hJ o.ch 3 
'I O.CHg 
From these expressions it may be seen that the same benzenoid grouping is common 
to all, and the narcotine and oxynarcotine stand to each other in the relationship of 
aldehyde and acid as far as this grouping is concerned. 
In attempting to trace a connexion between the absorption spectra and the formula? 
given above, one is met by a difficulty caused by the large number of oxygen atoms 
in the molecules, and particularly in those portions which have hitherto yielded no 
clue to their constitution. The difficulty is due to the fact that carboxyl and COH 
groups on side-chains, or as forming a portion of the substituted benzene nuclei exhibit 
great absorptive power. The occurrence of several oxidised radicals may cause the 
following variations in spectra : (a), the absorption bands become so widened as to 
extend into the region of rays affected by naphthalene, quinoline, and their deriva¬ 
tives ; (6) or the absorption is so powerful that it extends to rays less refrangible than 
