Abstract
IN view of the remarkable physiological properties of colchicine its chemical nature is of some interest. Until recently, the structure (I) proposed by Windaus1 has been generally accepted, although the stability of colchicine did not suggest a 9-amino-9: 10-dihydrophenanthrene system, and although the salicylaldehyde enol structure of ring C appeared fantastic. Cohen, Cook and Roe2 have now provided evidence that ring B must be 7-membered, but the exact location of the acetamido group remains uncertain; the isolation by Windaus of 4-methoxyphthalimide from the oxidation product of acetylcolchinol methyl ether suggested that the group was adjacent to ring C, but Lettré and Fernholz3 have found that only β-anisylethylamine derivatives act as mitosis poisons.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Windaus, Annalen, 439, 59 (1924).
Cohen, Cook and Roe, J. Chem. Soc., 194 (1940).
Lettré and Fernholz, J. physiol. Chem., 278, 175 (1943).
Bursian, Ber., 71, 245 (1938).
Dewar, Nature, 155, 50 (1945).
Birkinshaw, Chambers and Raistrick, Biochem. J., 36, 242 (1942).
Johanny and Zeisel, Monat., 9, 873 (1888).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DEWAR, M. Structure of Colchicine. Nature 155, 141–142 (1945). https://doi.org/10.1038/155141d0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/155141d0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.