THE ALKALOID OF RAUWOLFIA CANESCENS, LINN. PART III. SOME DEGRADATION PRODUCTS OF RAUWOLSCINE

Although rauwolscine. C₂₁H₂₆O₃N₂ is isomeric with and strikingly similar to yohimbine in its physical, chemical and physiological properties and in most of its degradation products. it differs from yohimbine in some respects. The third oxygen atom in rauwolscine is probably present as a hydroxyl group which is not reactive Like that of yohimbine ; one of the nitrogen atoms is found to be secondary and the other tertiary and is attached to a ring. A skeletal formula of rauwolscine has been suggested after due considerations of mow frigreents like barman. 3-ethylindole, indole-2-caboxylic acid and isophtbalic acid, isolated and identified from the degradation products of rauwolscine. Rauwolscinie acid does not undergo facile decarboxylation like yohimbic acid.