The Condensation of Tryptophane and other Indole Derivatives with certain Aldehydes

Abstract

The oxidation of tryptophane by methods other than that adopted by Hopkins and Cole [1902] gives rise to coloured amorphous compounds. These observers, employing ferric chloride as the oxidising agent, isolated two substances, the one having the formula C0H70N and afterwards identified by Ellinger [1906] as /8-indolealdehyde; the other an interesting crystalline base, the analysis of which gave results in accordance with the formula C12H10N2. This method of oxidation was used in the course of the present investigation with a view to the isolation and identification of the base C12HION2.