Improvements in the Preparation of a Crystalline Compound of Emetine.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of a Crystalline Compound of
Emetine.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE WHIFFEN, of Lombard Road, Battersea, in the County
of London, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved process for obtaining the alkaloid of
ipecacuanha known as emetine. This alkaloid has hitherto been obtainable in
the pure state, or approximately pure state, only by great care and trouble and
at very considerable cost in the form of the hydrochlorate, and the commercial
salt thus obtained is usually more or less impure and contaminated with excess
of acid. By my invention I readily produce a perfectly neutral crystalline salt
of emetine of great purity and entirely free from cephaeline, and therefore well
suited for various purposes to which the present hydrochlorate salt is inapplicable.
In carrying my invention into effect I extract the crude alkaloids from
ipecacuanha by the ordinary or any other suitable methods, and I then act upon
the said extract with hydrobromic acid preferably with the aid of heat to form
a solution. If found desirable I may effect the reaction in the cold and condense
the resulting liquid by other means as for instance by evaporation in vacuo.
When this solution is cooled the hydrobromate of emetine crystallizes out readily
leaving the impurities in the mother liquor. The crystals can then be separated
from the mother liquor in the usual manner and purified by re-crystallization or
otherwise. The pure hydrobromate of emetine thus obtained may be used in the
arts or employed as a basis for the preparation of other salts of the alkaloids.
Improvements in the Preparation of a Crystalline Compound of
Emetine.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE WHIFFEN, of Lombard Road, Battersea, in the County
of London, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion. and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved process for obtaining the alkaloid of
ipecacuanha known as emetine. This alkaloid has hitherto been obtainable in

page_text: the pure state, or approximately pure state, only by great care and trouble and
at very considerable cost in the form of the hydrochlorate, and the commercial
salt thus obtained is usually more or less impure, and contaminated with excess
of acid. By my invention I readily produce a. perfectly neutral crystalline salt
of emetine of great purity and entirely free from cephaeline, and therefore well
suited for various purposes to which the present hydrochlorate salt is inapplicable.
In carrying my invention into, effect I extract the crude alkaloids from
ipecacuanha by the ordinary or any other suitable methods, and I then act upon
the said extract with hydrobromic acid preferably with the aid of heat to form
a solution. If found desirable I may effect the reaction in the cold and condense
the resulting liquid by other means, as for instance, by, evaporation in vacuo.
When this solution is cooled the hydrobromate of emetine crystallizes out readily
leaving the impurities in the mother liquor. The crystals can then be separated
from the mother liquor in the usual manner, and purified by re-crystallization or
otherwise. The pure hydrobromate of emetine thus obtained may be used in the
arts or employed as a basis for the preparation of other salts of the alkaloids.
I'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion. and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is:-
Process for obtaining a pure crystallized salt of emetine consisting essentially
in treating the crude extract containing the alkaloid with hydrobromic acid solution
with or without the aid of heat and cooling or condensing the liquid until hydro-
bromate of emetine crystallizes out with subsequent separation from the mother
liquor.