A aconite alkaloid present in Aconitum fischeri Reich, A. sachalinense, Fr.
Schmidt (Saghalien) and A. subcuneaturn, Nakai, this base is amorphous but
yields crystalline salts, e.g. the perchlorate, m.p. 230-2°C (dec.); aurich10ride,
m.p. 208-9°C (dec.) and a perbromide, m.p. 181-2°C (dec.). Boiling dilute
H2S04 causes hydrolysis with the production of acetic acid and jesanisaconine
(p-anisoylaconine) forming a crystalline hydrochloride, m.p. 209- 21 O°C (dec.).Alkaline hydrolysis gives acetic and p-anisic acids and aconine. Pyrolysis furnishes
pyrojesaconitine, obtained as the crystalline perchlorate, m.p. 171-2°C; [α]13D -
27.4° (MeOH). Oxidation with KMn04 yields acetaldehyde, indicative of an
ethylimino group. The structure of the alkaloid has been determined by con_x0002_tinuous monitoring of the pyrolysis and an examination of the products
produced.
Jesaconitine is, like all of the aconitines, highly toxic producing raspiratory
paralysis and a direct toxic action on the heart, the latter often terminating in
ventricular fibrillation.
