Quercetin was isolated from the alcohlic extract of the leaves of
Euphoria Longana Lam., and was proved by mixed fusion as pentacetyl-quercetin. A glucoside assumed to be quercitrin was isolated from crude tannin but values did not coincide with the published facts. This was thoroughly methylated by diazomethane, decomposed by dil. H
2SO
4, and pale-yellow, methylated aglycone, m.p. 191-2°, was obtained. This was proved by mixed fusion to be 3-hydroxy-5, 7, 3′, 4′-tetramethoxyflavone, m.p. 192°, which was prepared from rutin obtained from the flowers of
Sophora japonica L. This proved that the bonding of sugar was at 3-position so that the glucoside must inevitably be quercetin-3-rhamnoside, i.e. quercitrin. Although there is a slight differences in the melting point from that found in literature it must be quercitrin as was earlier found by Mr Ohta (J. Pharm. Soc., Formosa. 53 (1942)).
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