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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: limpet chicken on October 21, 2004, 02:52:05 PM

Title: Decarboxylation of ibotenic acid
Post by: limpet chicken on October 21, 2004, 02:52:05 PM

I am attempting drying out of the fruit bodies of Amanita Muscaria, but am a little unsure as to the conditions that the decarboxylation of ibotenic acid to muscimol will occur.

Is simple dehydration of the fruiting bodies sufficient? or is prolonged heating nescessary to ensure full decarboxylation?

Thanks.

Title: Re:Decarboxylation of ibotenic acid
Post by: movies on October 21, 2004, 04:21:15 PM

I'm not familiar with the chemical structures, but some decarboxylations are very difficult and require prolonged heating.  It all depends on the substrate molecule though.

Title: Re:Decarboxylation of ibotenic acid
Post by: AWK on October 22, 2004, 01:08:35 AM

Fortunately, decarboxylation of ibotenic acid (alpha aminoacid) is not  easy and during heating probably the isooxazole part will decompose.
Structure can be find, eg, in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibotenic_acid)

Title: Re:Decarboxylation of ibotenic acid
Post by: limpet chicken on October 22, 2004, 07:47:04 PM

Ibotenic acid will decarboxylate definately on heating, to form muscimol, I was asking wether mere drying of the carpophore would also prove enough for decarboxylation to occur, as it is desired.

I might as well post this picture I just took, such a lovely specimen, it seems quite a shame to actually uproot this fruiting body, I found it only today, and it weighs roughly 3/4 of a pound, probably the biggest I have ever seen :)