Veratric acid forms colourless needles and four-sided prisms which have a marked acid reaction; it melts on heating to a colourless fluid, and sublimes without decomposition; it is easily soluble in hot alcohol, but insoluble in ether. If dissolved in nitric acid, water separates nitro-veratric acid, C9H9(NO2)O4 which crystallises out of alcohol in small yellow scales. Veratric acid unites with bases forming crystalline salts; the silver salt has the composition of C9H9AgO4 = 37·37 per cent. silver, and may assist in identification. It is crystalline with a melting point of 205° to 206°.
Cevadine, C32H49NO9 (Merck’s veratrine).—It has powerful sternutatory properties, and, under the influence of alcoholic potash, yields tiglic[524] acid and cevine, C27H43NO8.
[524] Tiglic acid, C5H8O2, is a volatile acid, m.p. 64°, boiling point, 198·5°; it forms a soluble barium salt, and an insoluble silver salt.
According to Ahrens, angelic acid is first formed, and then converted into tiglic acid. When the alkaloid is boiled with hydrochloric acid, tiglic acid is formed, and a ruby red mass. Nitric acid oxidises cevadine completely; with potassic permanganate it yields acetic and oxalic acids; with chromic acid it forms acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide.[525]
[525] Ber., xxiii. 2700-2707.
The Continental authorities always give to cevadine the name of veratrine. Cevadine forms a crystalline aurochloride, a crystalline mercurochloride, C32H49NO9HHgCl3, and a crystalline picrate, C32H49NO9C6H3N8O7. The mercury salt crystallises in small silvery plates, and melts with decomposition at 172°. The picrate forms stable crystals blackening at 225°; both of the latter salts are but little soluble in water, but are soluble in alcohol. Cevadine also unites with bromine, forming a tetrabromide, an amorphous yellow powder insoluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform.