The Non-volatile Acids of Succulent Plants Exhibiting a Marked Diurnal Oscillation in their Acid Content. I. The Detection of Piscidic Acid in Agave americana L..

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Abstract
The acid mixture, isolated over the lead salts from fresh leaves of the plant, was converted into the corresponding methyl- and ethylesters, and the ester mixtures fractionated in vacuo. From the individual fractions the hydrazides and benzyli-dene hydrazides were prepared and examined. In this way a crystalline hydrazide (C11H16O5N4; m.p. 185-187[degree]C) that corresponds to the hydrazide of piscidic acid, was isolated from the highest boiling fractions, and from this hydrazide the corresponding benzylidene hydrazide (C25H25O5N4; m.p. 236-238[degree]C) was prepared. From the highest boiling fractions of the methyl ester mixture a crystalline ester (C13H16O7; m.p. 126-127[degree]C) which corresponds to the methyl ester of piscidic acid was isolated and from this an acetyl derivative (m.p. 84[degree]C) was prepared. From the properties of the 4 derivatives mentioned and from the I.R. spectra of the methyl ester, it was concluded that the acid in question is piscidic acid. So far this compound has been found in only 2 other plants: Piscidia erythrina and Narcissus poeticus.
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