THE CONSTITUTION OF SWIETENINE, THE NON-BlTTUR PRINCIPLE OF THE SEEDS OF SWIETENI A MACROPHYLLA KlNG. PART II

Swietenine, C₁₈H₂₄O₅, the non-bitter lactonic principle of \(Swietenia\) \(macrophylla\), upon dehydro­genation with selenium at 300° in a sealed tube produces a hydrocarbon, swieten, C₁₆H₂₀ It has been characterised as a polyalkylnaphthalene From its C. V. spectrum and other pertinent physical and chemical data. This obscrration, coupled with chemical and spectral evidences, indicates a hydro-naphthalene lactone structure for swietenine.