Notes on the compound anemonin

It occurs in many of the Ranunculaceae; it is a toxic substance, and produces paralysis of the central nervous system. The compound has the formula C₁₅ H₁₂ O₆, and is deposited in rhombic crystals melting at 152°. It is volatile with steam, and, on exposure to air at ordinary temperatures, is slowly converted into anemonic acid; the oxidation proceeds more quickly if platinum black, hydrogen peroxide, or barium peroxide is employed. J. Ch. S. 1893 AU. 727.

(2) But in J. Ch. S. 1896 AI. 623, the formula given for Anemonin is C₁₀H₈ 0₄. It is also stated there that it yields methyl and ethyl derivatives, which are apparently ethereal salts, showing that it is the anhydride of a dicarboxylic acid. Dimethyl anemonin, C₈ H₈ (C00Me)₂, melts at 109-110°, me-thylanemonin at 174-176°, diethyl anemonin at 47°, and ethylanemonin at 168-170°. (3) The said dicarboxylic acid is a ketonic acid. (4) By oxidation, anemonin yields succinic and oxalic acids. (5) By hydrolysis of the dialkylic salts before mentioned with alkali and amorphous acid, C₁₀ H₈ 0₄₊2H₂0 is formed, but hydrolysis of them with HCI yields a crystalline acid, C₁₀ H₈ 0₄+H₂0. The amorphous acid gives coloured, the crystalline acid colourless, salts. (6) Anemonin is a saturated compound, for by reduction it yields a saturated hydroxy-acid, and absorbs neither chlorine (Hübl’s solution) nor bromine.