Abstract
Experiments already reported have shown that hydroxy pyridine exists in two readily interconvertible desmotropic crystalline forms, one of which is able promptly to dissipate the acute symptoms of polyneuritis gallinarum. In order to ascertain the chemical structure of the physiologically active modification curative tests have been made with β hydroxy pyridine, α methoxy pyridine, α methyl pyridone, trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and betaine. On the basis of the results it may be concluded with reasonable certainty that the relief of the paralysis by such substances is intimately connected with a betaine-like ring.
That such a structure is likewise an essential feature of natural “vitamines” has been adopted as a working hypothesis. It affords a rational explanation of the instability of natural antineuritic substances and appears to conform to other previous observations. In this connection attention is called to the fact that, on theoretical grounds, the existence of betaine-like tautomeric modifications of oxy- and amino-pyrimidines and purines is not less probable than in the case of the corresponding derivatives of pyridine.
However, this assumption as to the structure of “vitamines” does not appear to be borne out by the more or less complete failure of several of the above synthetic compounds to protect birds against polyneuritis though capable of relieving the severe symptoms when once developed. No conclusion has been reached as to the cause of this apparent discrepancy.
Future work will take the direction of a search for similar desmotropism in the pyrimidine series.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.