CAS No 57-47-6 , [(3aR,8bS)-3,4,8b-trimethyl-2,3a-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]indol-7-yl]
N-methylcarbamate

Title: Physostigmine
CAS Registry Number: 57-47-6
CAS Name: (3aS-cis)-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-Hexahydro-1,3a,8-trimethylpyrrolo[2,3-b]indol-5-ol methylcarbamate (ester)
Synonyms: eserine
Trademarks: Synapton (Forest)
Molecular Formula: C15H21N3O2
Molecular Weight: 275.35
Percent Composition: C 65.43%, H 7.69%, N 15.26%, O 11.62%
Literature References: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. From Calabar beans, the seeds of the vine Physostigma venenosum Balf., Leguminosae: Jobst, Hesse, Ann. 129, 115 (1864); Hesse, ibid. 141, 82 (1867). Extraction procedure: Schwyzer, Die Fabrikation pharmazeutischer und chemisch-technischer Produkte (Berlin, 1931) p 338; Chemnitius, J. Prakt. Chem. 116, 59 (1927). Structure: Stedman, Barger, J. Chem. Soc. 127, 247 (1925). Absolute configuration: R. B. Longmore, B. Robinson, Chem. Ind. (London) 1969, 622. Crystal structure: Petcher, Pauling, Nature 241, 277 (1973). Synthesis: Julian, Pikl, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 57, 755 (1935); Harley-Mason, Jackson, J. Chem. Soc. 1954, 3651; J. Wijnberg, W. N. Speckamp, Tetrahedron 34, 2399 (1978). Cholinesterase inhibitor: Engelhart, Loewi, Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol. 150, 1 (1930); Matthes, J. Physiol. 70, 338 (1930). Toxicity data: W. T. Lynch, J. M. Coon, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 21, 53 (1972); R D. Sofia, L. C. Knabloch, ibid. 28, 227 (1974). Improvement of long-term memory: K. L. Davis et al., Science 201, 272 (1978). Memory enhancement in Alzheimer's disease: L. J. Thal et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 308, 720 (1983); eidem, Ann. Neurol. 13, 491 (1983); L. Gustafson et al., Psychopharmacology 93, 31 (1987). Review: B. Robinson in The Alkaloids Vol. XIII, R. H. F. Manske, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1971) pp 213-226. Comprehensive description: F. J. Muhtadi, S. S. El-Hawary, Anal. Profiles Drug Subs. 18, 289-350 (1989).
Properties: Orthorhombic sphenoidal prisms or clusters of leaflets from ether or benzene. mp 105-106° (also an unstable, low-melting form, mp 86-87°). [a]D17 -76° (c = 1.3 in chloroform); [a]D25 -120° (benzene). pKa1 6.12; pKa2 12.24. Slightly sol in water; sol in alc, benzene, chloroform, oils. Solid and solns turn red on exposure to heat, light, air, and on contact with traces of metals. Under certain conditions the oxidation may proceed to yield eserine blue, C26H31N5O2. LD50 orally in mice: 4.5 mg/kg (Lynch, Coon).
Melting point: mp 105-106° (also an unstable, low-melting form, mp 86-87°)
pKa: pKa1 6.12; pKa2 12.24
Optical Rotation: [a]D17 -76° (c = 1.3 in chloroform); [a]D25 -120° (benzene)
Toxicity data: LD50 orally in mice: 4.5 mg/kg (Lynch, Coon)
 
Derivative Type: Salicylate
CAS Registry Number: 57-64-7
Trademarks: Antilirium (Forest)
Molecular Formula: C22H27N3O5
Molecular Weight: 413.47
Percent Composition: C 63.91%, H 6.58%, N 10.16%, O 19.35%
Properties: Acicular crystals, mp 185-187°. uv max (methanol): 239, 252, 303 nm (log e 4.09, 4.04, 3.78). One gram dissolves in 75 ml water at 25° (pH of 0.5% aq soln 5.8); in 16 ml water at 80°; in 16 ml alcohol, 5 ml boiling alcohol, in 6 ml chloroform, 250 ml ether. Solns should be kept well closed in light-resistant, alkali-free glass containers and used within a week. Turns red and loses effectiveness on exposure to heat, light, air. LD50 i.p. in mice: 0.64 mg/kg (Sofia, Knabloch).
Melting point: mp 185-187°
Absorption maximum: uv max (methanol): 239, 252, 303 nm (log e 4.09, 4.04, 3.78)
Toxicity data: LD50 i.p. in mice: 0.64 mg/kg (Sofia, Knabloch)
 
Derivative Type: Sulfate
CAS Registry Number: 64-47-1
Molecular Formula: (C15H21N3O2)2.H2SO4
Molecular Weight: 648.77
Percent Composition: C 55.54%, H 6.84%, N 12.95%, O 19.73%, S 4.94%
Properties: Deliquescent scales, mp 140° (after drying at 100°). One gram dissolves in 0.4 ml alcohol, 4 ml water (pH of 0.05M soln 4.7), 1200 ml ether. The solns are more prone to change color than those of the salicylate.
Melting point: mp 140° (after drying at 100°)
 
Derivative Type: Sulfite
Molecular Formula: (C15H21N3O2)2.H2SO3
Molecular Weight: 632.77
Percent Composition: C 56.94%, H 7.01%, N 13.28%, O 17.70%, S 5.07%
Properties: White powder, freely sol in water, alcohol. The aq soln is stated to remain colorless for a long time.
 
Therap-Cat: Cholinergic; miotic.
Therap-Cat-Vet: Cholinergic; miotic.
Keywords: Cholinergic; Miotic.