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Vol. 72
Noms
formaldehyde (0.001 M ) was included in the medium to test the possibility that it could be utilized. Glycerol, i-erythritol, pyruvate and Experimental glucose served as substrates in separate experi5,8-l)imetboxy-4-quinolino~(I). Method A.-2,5-Dimethoxyaniline (0.75 mole) was condensed with ethyl ments, and in each case a substantial amount of ethoxalylacetate (from one mole of the sodium salt) essen- CI4 was incorporated in the resulting propionic tially according t o the procedure of Surrey and The crude ethyl 5,8-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-2-quinoline- acid. This acid was extracted from the medium carboxylate (190 g., m. p. 139-143") was saponified in by ether and purified by partition chromatogdilute sodium hydroxide and upon acidification gave 165 raphy.2 The propionic acid from the glycerol g. of crude 5,8-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-2-quinolinecar- fermentation was diluted approximately 1: 1 boxylic acid (m. p. 215216O dec.). The crude substance with known acid as carrier aiid the S-benzylwas decarboxylated by heating in phenyl ether giving an thiouroniuni salt was made and recrystallized 88% yield of crude I (m. p. 216-219"). I was recrystallized from isopropyl aicohol g;ving short tan-colored crys- from hot water. I l i e melting point (148-149" tals which melted a t 220-221 . uIicor.) was the sane as that of an authentic Anal. Calcd. for C1lII~lKOd:K, 6.82. Found: K , sample, and the mixed melting point was not 6.76. Method B.---Pollovcing the general procedure of Pricc depressed. The specific activity of the acid regenerated froin the derivative was the same as and Roberts," an 86% yield of crude ethyl 5,8-dimethoxy4-hydroxy3-quinolinecarboxylate (m. 1). 190-194 ") was that determined prior to making the derivative. obtained b y condensation of 0.35 mole of diethyl ethoxy- The activity WAS determined by counting as methyienemalonate'a with 0.3 mole 2,5-dimethoxyaniline. Inriurn carbonate the carbon dioxide resulting The crude ester (69.2 9.) was saponified, yielding 61.7 g. of crude 5,8~tmethoxy-4-hydroxy-3-quinolinecarboxylic from the wet combustion3 of the free propionic acid. The propionic acid was degraded to carbon acid (in. p. 254-256" dec.) which gave a 93% yield of crude I (m. p. 217-220") when decarboxylated in boiling dioxide and acetic acid by oxidation with chromic phenyl ether. acid. The resulting acetate which represents 5,8-Dimethoxy-4-chloroquinoline(11).-Two-tenths mole (41 g.) of I was heated with 150 ml. of phosphoryl thc N - atid $-carbons of the original propionic trichloride until the solid was dissolved, then most of the acid was separated from any residual propionic excess phosphoryl trichloride was removed in vacuum and acid by partition chromatography, converted to the residue poured into a flask containing 200-300 ml. of carbon dioxide by wet combustion, and the chipped ice and water. The cold solution was made alkaline with concentrated ammonia water, allowed t o stand activity deterinined. The activity of the car2-3 hours and the solid removed by filtration. The lmiyl group of the propionic acid was calculated crude I1 was recrvstallized from dilute (2550%'nl ethvl Irom the values for the total propionate and the alcohol giving long white needles; the yield a;& 35 6. acetate derived therefrom. =\n aliquot of this (78%), m. p. 110-111". acetate from the glycerol fermentation was further Anal. Calcd. for C1~H1,ClSO~:C1, 16.84 Found: degraded by pyrolyzing the barium salt to carbon C1, 16.08. 5,8-Dimethoxyquinoline (111).-One-tenth mole (22.4 dioxide and acetone. The carbon dioxide repreg.) of I1 was reduced with hydrogen and palladium-charsents the 01 carbon of the original propionic acid. coal in accordance with the generally accepted procedure . I 3 'The acetone was degraded by NaOI to CHIs After isolation of the 5,S-dimethoxyquinoiine, the solid was recrystallized from low boiling ligroin (60-80") as and acetate, arid the CHI3, which represents the short yhite needles. The yield was 15.2 g. (80%), m. p. /?-carbon of the propionic acid was oxidized to 75-76 . CO hy AgNOs, and then to COz by 1 2 0 5 . The Anal. Calcd. for C1~II~lS02:X, 7.39. Found: X', activity expressed as counts per minute per mM. 7.28. of carbon was distributed in the propionic acid (12) Fuson, Parham and Reed, J . Org. Chem., 11, 194 (1946); as shown. necessary to dry the solution before addition of the 2,5-dirnethoxyaniline.
Parham and Reed, "Organic Syntheses," Vol. 28. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N. Y.,1948. p. 60. (13) Neumann, Sommer, Kaslow and Shiner, "Organic Syntheses," Vol. 26, John Wiley and Sons. Inc., New Yo&, N, Y.,1946, p 45.
916 858 1570 CH ~--CHr-COOH
-1 suinrnary of the activities found in t h e propionic acid produced from the fermentation of various substrates is given in the table. CONTRIBUTION No. 498 FROM THE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY Since it has previously been shown that carbon BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA RECEIVED MAY18, 1950 dioxide is fixed only in the carboxyl group of propionic it is clear that the formaldehyde The Utilization of Formaldehyde by Propionic was not utilized exclusively via conversion to earbori dioxide. Furthermore, since the specific Acid Bacterial activity of the carboxyl group is appreciably BY FREDERICK W. LEAVER higher than thdt of the carbon dioxide in every During studies on the fermentation of various case it seems apparent that formaldehyde carbon substrates by Propbnibacterium arabinosum C" was incorporated into the carboxyl position of propionate by some mechanism in addition to carbon (1) This work was supported in part by a graut from the Atomic Energy Commission and the Office of Naval Research and in part by a grant from the Prentiss Foundation The radiocarbon was obtained in allocation from the I: S Atomic Energy Commission. Acknowledgment of many hclpful suggestions is due to Dr. €I G. Wood
(3) F A. Isherwood, B I O C ~ CJ., W 40, 688 (1946). (3) D D Van Slyke a n d J Folch, J B i d Chcfn., 186,509 (1940) ( I ) P Nahinsky arid R u b e n , Tirrs JOURNAL, 63,2275 (1941). (5) 13. G Wood, C 11 LVerhtnan, A Hemingway and A 0 Nier
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