A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

100 THE CHEMISTRY OF
Monoxotliylnnine. Dioxethylamine.
^OH
Trioxotiylamie. Tctroxothyhuuine.
X OH
\)H
Clwlinc or Nmrine C2H4 •! JT/QJT \ QTT.—This strong base
discovered in the bile, and afterwards it vr&s found in the brain,
in the yolk of eggs, in mustard seed, &c. It does not exist in
the free state in these substances, but is a product of decomposition
of highly complicated compounds. Choline lias also been produced
synthetically by lieating a concentrated aqueous solution of
trimethylamine with ethene oxide:—
C2H4O + H2O + N(CH,)3 = lg^
The free base is a deliquescent mass, having a strongly alkaline
reaction, and readily absorbing carbon dioxide. Jt combines
with acids to form crystalline salts. The platinum compound
(N[C.H4(OH)(CH3),]C1)2 + BC14 forms large yellow plates, which
dissolve in water, but are insoluble in alcohol.
When choliuo is heated it i? resolved into glycol and triraetliyltiinine:—
* ° A { 0!
f OH
Oxyclwiinc or Jktatne C2H3O j \r/nir \ OH'""""'^ 1 ' 8 ^ ase ' 8
by the oxidation of choline, and by the action of trimethylamine
upon tnonochloiucetic acid :—
>0
CH2C1.CO.OH + N(CHS)S ^= N(CHa)s(CH8.OH.CO)Cl
Oxycholine crystallizes from alcohol in large shining deh'quescent
crystals. It has no alkaline reaction and a sweetish and cooling
taste; its salts crystallize well. Oxycholine occurs in beet-roots
H