Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
April,  1884.  / 
Laserpitin. 
209 
ing  to  the  formula  C15H2204.    No  chloride  or  bromide  of  laserpitin 
could  be  obtained,  but  an  acetate,  C15H2204,AcOH,  crystallized  in  silky 
needles  from  a  solution  in  acetic  acid ;  even  this  salt  was  unstable. 
Several  derivatives  of  laserpitin  were  obtained.  An  attempt  to  pro- 
duce an  acetyl  derivative  by  the  direct  action  of  acetic  chloride  or 
acetic  anhydride  gave  negative  results. 
When  laserpitin  is  distilled  with  zinc  dust  or  soda-lime,  no  benzene 
or  other  aromatic  hydrocarbon  is  obtained,  from  which  the  author 
concludes  that  the  molecule  of  laserpitin  contains  no  compound  con- 
stituted on  the  type  of  the  closed  carbon-ring. 
The  action  of  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid  on  an  alcoholic  solu- 
tion of  laserpitin  gives  rise  to  methylcrotonic  acid,  and  the  action  of 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid  yields  angelic  acid.1  When  laserpitin  is 
heated  with  dilute  nitric  acid,  oxalic  acid  is  one  of  the  products.  Ebul- 
lition with  alcoholic  potash  yields  angelic  acid,  and  fusion  with  potas- 
sium hydroxide,  methylcrotonic  acid. 
Monacetyllaserpitin,  C15H21Ac04,  may  be  obtained  by  the  action  of 
acetic  anhydride  on  laserpitin  in  presence  of  anhydrous  sodium 
acetate.  It  crystallizes  in  colorless  needles,  melting  at  113°,  and 
soluble  in  glacial  acetic  acid,  alcohol,  ether  and  chloroform,  but  inso- 
luble in  water. 
Dinitrolaserpitin,  C15H20(NO2)2O4,H2O,  is  obtained  as  an  amorphous 
mass  by  the  action  of  nitric  acid  on  laserpitin.  It  melts  at  115°,  and 
is  insoluble  in  water,  but  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform  and 
glacial  acetic  acid. 
Bromolaserpitin,  C30H39Br5O8,  obtained  by  the  action  of  bromine  on 
a  solution  of  laserpitin  in  chloroform,  crystallizes  in  rosettes,  which 
are  soluble,  in  ether,  alcohol,  chloroform  and  glacial  acetic  acid  ;  they 
melt  at  90°. 
La  zerin,  C20H3qO5,  is  a  resinous  substance  (called  by  the  author 
lazerol)  which  is  produced  when  concentrated  acids  or  alkalis  act  on 
laserpitin.  It  is  insoluble  in  acids,  but  is  dissolved  by  ether,  alcohol, 
chloroform  and  glacial  acetic  acid.  Its  production,  together  with 
angelic  acid,  or  methylcrotonic  acid,  by  the  action  of  sulphuric  or 
hydrochloric  acids  on  laserpitin,  is  symbolized  by  the  equation 
1  In  another  place  the  author  mentions  the  production  of  angelic  acid  by 
the  action  of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  of  methylcrotonic  acid  by  the  action 
of  sulphuric  acid  on  laserpitin,  but  from  internal  evidence  this  is  probably 
a  mis-statement. 
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