The chemistry of Marchand’s test for strychnine identification
Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City (CDMX), Mexico.
Research Article
Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020, 01(01), 018-022
Article DOI: 10.30574/msarr.2020.1.1.0020
Publication history:
Received on 29 September 2020; revised on 19 October 2020; accepted on 22 October 2020
Abstract:
The chemistry of a spot test for identification of a substance with biological activity is important. Besides the academic interest of knowing what is going on in the test, the study reveals the chemical deportment of the active compound, and this is related to biochemistry. This result can be used to enhance, or on the contrary, deter the activity of the compound. In this communication we provide the chemistry involved in the spot test for strychnine identification by means of lead dioxide (Marchand’s test). The electron flow, step by step, is given from the alkaloid to the complex oxidation product. Thus, this toxicological assay has been up-dated.
Keywords:
Allylic oxidation; Lactam formation; 1,4-Addition; Epoxidation; Ring opening; Alcohol and aldehyde oxidation.
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Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0