Notes on the alkaloid delphocurarine

Delphocurarine consists, in reality, of a mixture of bases, and behaves physiologically like curare (compare Lohmann, Pflüger’s Archiv 1902, XCII, 398). It forms a white, amorphous powder which has a very bitter taste and an alkaline reaction, and is readily soluble in dilute acids. A small quantity of crystalline compound, C₂₃H₃₃ O₇N, has been isolated from delphocurarine by means of ether and a mixture of light petroleum; it crystallises in needles, melts at 184°-185°, is rather readily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzene, but only sparingly so in light petroleum, and contains 18 per cent, of methoxyl. The platinum and gold salts form pale reddish yellow powders, the former containing Pt. 13'69 per cent, and the latter An 23'29.