Stachydrine-Synonyms Methyl hygrate betaine; Hygric acid methylbetaine

C. Stachydrine

Synonyms Methyl hygrate betaine; Hygric acid methylbetaine.

Biological Sources It is obtained from the forage of Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) (Yarrow); flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium (Trevir.) Vis. (Asteraceae) (Pyrethrum, Dalmatian Insect Flower); branches of Lagochilus inebrians Bunge (Lamiaceae) (Intoxicating Mint); dry plant of, Leonurus cardiaca (L.) (Lamiaceae) (Motherwort); the ‘betaine fraction’ of alfalfa Medicago sativa L. (Fabiaceae) (Alfalfa) (0.785%); and herbage of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevisan (Lamiaceae) (Betony).

Chemical Structure

(S)-2-Carboxy-1, 1-dimethylpyrrolidinium inner salt; (C₇H₁₃NO₂).

Isolation It has been isolated by reported method by Schulze** and Jahns.***

Characteristic Features

1. It is obtained as monohydrate deliquescent crystals having mp 235°C (anhydrous).

2. It is sweetish in taste.

3. It is soluble in water, dilute mineral acids and ethanol;

4. It isomerizes at the mp to methyl hygrate.

Identification Tests

1. Stachydrine Hydrochloride (C₇H₁₇NO₂.HCl): Its large prisms are obtained from absolute ethanol which gets decomposed at 235°C. It is very soluble in water and soluble in 13 parts of ethanol.

2. Stachydrine Acid Oxalate (C₇H₁₃NO₂.C₂H₂O₄): Its needles have mp 106°C. It is practically insoluble in absolute ethanol.

3. Stachydrine Aurichloride (C₇H₁₃NO₂.HAuCl₄): Its yellow needles have mp 225°C (rapid heating). It is quite soluble in hot water, but practically insoluble in cold water.

4. Stachydrine Platinichloride Tetrahydrate (C₇H₁₇NO₂)₂.H₂PtCl₆.4H₂O): It is obtained as orange crystals decomposing at 210-220°C (rapid heating). It is found to be very soluble in dilute ethanol and water. It may also be obtained with two moles of water of crystallization.

------------------------------------

* Liebermann, Ber., 22, 679 (1898)

** Sehulze, Ber. 26, 939 (1893);

*** Jahns, Ber. 29, 2065 (1896);