Paper chromatographic analysis of Strychnos alkaloids

A critical review of the paper chromatography of Strychnos alkaloids has led to the following conclusions: 1. Paper chromatography is one of the most important methods of approach in elucidating the chemistry of Strychnos alkaloids. 2. Paper chromatography and electrophoresis, in the case of Strychnos tertiary alkaloids, are of great value for the rapid analytical identification of the various compounds. In the case of quaternary alkaloids these methods can give general information, but no absolute conclusions, about a great number of alkaloids so far known of this group, and facilitate the identification of some of the more common bases. 3. No absolute relation between RM value and structure can so far be derived from the RC values of Strychnos alkaloids. This is due to the extremely complicated structures of these alkaloids, which belong to several chemical groups, and to the difficulty of obtaining standard RC values for many quaternary alkaloids. 4. Paper electrophoresis of Strychnos tertiary alkaloids is of great importance for the identification of the different strychnine derivatives. 5. Paper chromatography and electrophoresis must be considered as the best methods hitherto used for the preparative purification of small quantities of Strychnos quaternary alkaloids.