GB802349A - New process for the production of a pure alkaloid - Google Patents

Abstract

Deserpidine is separated from its mixtures with reserpine, particularly those mixtures obtained by extraction of plant material of the Rauwolfia species, by treating the mixtures with a nitrosating reagent, especially sodium nitrite in acetic acid, and isolating deserpidine from the nitrosation products. The alkaloid mixtures are preferably freed from reserpine to a considerable extent before nitrosation, e.g. by treatment with thiocyanic acid and separation of the less soluble reserpine salt. The nitrosation is preferably carried out at about 20 DEG C. to avoid nitrosating deserpidine itself. In examples: (1) a mixture of reserpine and deserpidine (1:1) in methanol and acetic acid is treated with sodium nitrite, filtered from nitrosation products, deserpidine precipitated with ammonia and then purified by solution in chloroform-ether-petroleum ether, filtration, extraction of the filtrate with acetic acid and reprecipitation with ammonia; (2) as in (1) using a mixture of reserpine and deserpidine (1:3).