§ 472. Jervine, (C26H37NO32H2O) (Wright and Luff), C14H22NO2 (Pehkschen),[526] crystallises in white needles, and, when anhydrous, melts at 237·7°. It is slightly lævorotatory. At 25° one part of the base dissolves in 1658 benzene, 268 ether, 60 chloroform, and 16·8 absolute alcohol. It is insoluble in light petroleum, and but slightly soluble in ethyl acetate, water, or carbon bisulphide. It forms a very insoluble sulphate, and a sparingly soluble nitrate and hydrochloride. Jervine gives, with sulphuric acid and sugar, a violet colour, passing to blue. Treated with strong sulphuric acid it dissolves to a yellow fluid, which becomes successively dark yellow, brownish yellow, and then greenish. The green shade is immediately developed by diluting with water. Jervine does not produce sneezing.
[526] Jour. Pharm. (5), xxii. 265-269.
§ 473. Pseudo-jervine, C29H43NO7 (Wright), m.p. 299°; C29H49NO12, m.p. 259° (Pehkschen), may be obtained in a crystalline state. One part is soluble in 10·9 parts of light petroleum, 372 parts of benzene, 1021 parts of ether, 4 of chloroform, and 185 of absolute alcohol. The pure base gives no colour with sulphuric, nitric, or hydrochloric acids. It does not produce sneezing.
§ 474. Protoveratridine, C26H45NO8, is probably derived from protoveratrine. Salzberger[527] isolated it from powdered hellebore roots by treating the powder with barium hydroxide and water, and extracting with ether. The ether extract was separated and freed from ether in a current of hydrogen at a low temperature.
[527] Arch. Pharm., ccxxviii. 462-483.
From the dark green syrup obtained jervine crystallised out, and from the mother liquor ultimately protoveratridine was separated.