Brucine

• 2,3- Dimethoxystrychnin
• 10,11- Dimethoxystrychnin

White crystalline solid

Fixed

178 ° C

Poorly in water ( 3.2 g · l-1 at 15 ° C)

Risk

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Brucine [ brut͡si ː n] ( after the Scottish scientist James Bruce ) is a highly poisonous alkaloid, which is found in the seeds of ordinary Brechnuss and Ignatius Brechnuss.

Toxic effect

Brucine is effective at very low levels as a neurotoxin. Poisoning danger is not only from ingestion, but also by inhalation and skin contact. The consequences are pulmonary edema and respiratory paralysis. Are particularly at risk of heart, kidney and liver patients. As oral lethal dose for rat 1 mg / kg is indicated.

Properties

Brucine is very similar to strychnine and comes like this naturally in the Brechnuss. Chemically include both connections to the Hydrocarbazol alkaloids. Brucine tastes very bitter; the taste is perceptible in aqueous solution even at a dilution of 1:220000.

Use

Brucine is inter alia used in the analysis. So it reacts in conc. Sulfuric acid containing nitrate ions to form a red- to -orange -colored compound whose composition is unknown.