Studies on Vitamin B₁ and Related Compounds. XXXVII

Chemical Change of Vitamin B₁ in Solutions

Abstract

The change of vitamin B₁ when it was heated in an aqueous solution of pH 8 at 60° for 2.5 hours was examined by paper partition chromatography, and it was found that thiochrome (IV), SB₁ (VII), B₁ disulfide (V), and B₁ thiazolone (VI) had been formed. However, a large amount of vitamin B₁ was found to be still intact. The same procedure carried out in alcohol, instead of water, showed that almost none of vitamin B₁ remained, and that the formation of SB₁ (VII) was larger than in the case of aqueous solutions, SB₁ being obtained as crystals. Other compounds formed were (IV), (V), and (VI), as in the case of aqueous solutions