Detection of N-oxides of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Abstract

REAGENTS for the detection of alkaloidal N-oxides on paper chromatograms are few and are usually rather insensitive or of low selectivity. Reaction with acetic anhydride, which is known to produce highly coloured by-products with the N-oxides of many alkaloids1, provides sensitive and characteristic tests for those of the pyrrolizidine series. © 1960 Nature Publishing Group.