Both the hydroxylactone obtained by the action of chromous chloride on annotinine chlorohydrin, and the unsaturated lactone B prepared by the action of the same reagent on the hydroxylactone, contain a secondary nitrogen and a vinyl group. The unsaturated lactone A which accompanies the hydroxylactone is a cyclic allylamine which on oxidation with potassium permanganate yields an amino acid C14H19O4N. These facts make it possible to explain the reaction of chromous chloride with annotinine chlorohydrin. The amino acid can be de-hydrogenated to an acid containing a free carboxyl and a lactamic grouping (C14H15O3N) but no longer containing a lactone ring. The lactamic acid which seems to contain a benzene ring is readily decarboxylated to a neutral substance C13H15ON, showing color reactions and ultraviolet absorption similar to those of strychnine.
