Structure and Autoxidation of Atractylon

Abstract

Structure and Autoxidation of AtractylonThe crystalline sesquiterpenoid, atractylon, was first isolated from the crude drug "So-jutsu" 1) and later from Atractylodes japonica KOIDZUMI 2) and its related plant.3) The present comunication contains evidence which permits the assignment of expression (I) to atractylon and expressions (IV) and (V) to its autoxidation products.Atractylon (I), C15H20O, m.p. 38°,〔 α 〕D+40.0°,*1 had infrared spectrum which ex-hibited no band associated with hydroxyl or carbonyl grouping but a band at 1134cm -1 assigned to ether mode.The presence of the furan system in (I) was indicated from the positive color reactions for furan ring such as vanillin-HCl, pine stick, Ehrlich,