[CONTRIBUTION FROM THE LABORATORIES OF THE DIVISION OF INSECTICIDE I NVESTI -

GATIONS, BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT QUARANTINE U. S. DEPART-

MENT OF AGRICULTURE, WASHINGTON, D. C. ]
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS. IV.* THE SEMI-
CARBAZONES OF PYRETHRINS I AND I1 AND
OF PYRETHROLONE?
H. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
Received Februarg 16, 1956
The conclusions that have been reached by numerous investigators re-
garding the relative insecticidal value of the two toxic principles of pyr-
ethrum flowers, pyrethrin I and pyrethrin 11, show wide variance. This
lack of agreement seems to be due to the fact that the pure pyrethrins
have never been available for biological tests. Our nvestigations in this
field have for their object the study of methods by which these pure
pyrethrins might be obtained.
A considerable advance toward this accomplishment was made in the
improvement in the method of preparing concentrates high in total pyr-
ethrins and the separation of these concentrates into fractions in each of
which one of the separate pyrethrins predominates, described in a
previous article,2 to which the reader is referred for complete details.
The preliminary operations whereby the crude starting material, a com-
merical product consisting of the petroleum-ether extractives of pyrethrum
flowers, is freed from fats, waxes, and fatty acids, and which gives a con-
centrate containing 70 per cent. total pyrethrins, need not be reviewed here.
The process by which this concentrate is separated into fractions in
which the separate pyrethrins are concentrated is based on the observation
that they have different solubilities in diluted acetic acid and in petroleum
ether. When the 70 per cent. concentrate is dissolved in petroleum ether
and the solution is agitated with acetic acid containing the proper amount
of water, the pyrethrin I and the pyrethrin I1 are found to be very un-
equally distributed in the separated liquids, most of the pyrethrin I being
* For article I11 of this series see ACREE, SCHAFFER, AND HALLER, Jour. Econ.
Ent., in press.
t We are indebted to F. A. Acree, J r., and P. S. Schaffer for technical assistance
throughout this investigation and to J . R. Spies for the microcombustions.
1 GNADINGER, C. B., Pyrethrum Flowers. Minneapolis, 1933, p. 92.
LAFORQE, F. B., AND HALLER, H. L., J . Amer. Chem. SOC., 67, 1893 (1935).
38
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 39
in the petroleum-ether solution and most of the pyrethrin I1 in the acetic
acid. Since the impurities present in the concentrate tend to follow the
pyrethrin I, the method is more favorable for the purification and concen-
tration of the other toxic principle, pyrethrin 11. By repetition of the
process just described with the material isolated from the acetic acid solu-
tion, a further concentration of pyrethrin I1 is attained.
As a result of these operations three concentrates are obtained, one
that has a content of about 4045 per cent. pyrethrin I together with 12-14
per cent. pyrethrin 11, another containing 80-83 per cent. pyrethrin I1
with 3-5 per cent. pyrethrin I, and an intermediate fraction that contains
both pyrethrins in about equal proportions.*
After many applications of this method we have not found it necessary
to make any important changes. Having noticed, however, that in the
first separation the impurities tended to go with the fraction in which
pyrethrin I predominated, we found it advantageous to keep the inter-
mediate fractions separate for retreatment, because these fractions had a
higher total pyrethrin content and, when separated in a new series of
operations, yielded concentrates higher in the respective pyrethrins. For
instance, the pyrethrin I1 concentrate obtained from the intermediate
fractions contained about 87 per cent. of pyrethrin 11, and the correspond-
ing pyrethrin I concentrate about 57 per cent. of pyrethrin I.
As already reported2 concentrates of 80 per cent. pyrethrin I1 content
can be distilled in the molecular still and yield material which analyses
indicate to be substantially 100 per cent. pyrethrin 11. For reasons that
will be given later, it seems doubtful that the product so obtained repre-
sents the natural, unaltered compound. The best available concentrates
of pyrethrin I were regarded as too impure to offer promise of satisfactory
results by this method of direct distillation.
After we had accomplished an approximate separation of the two pyr-
ethrins, it seemed promising to make a study of their isolation by other
means. The investigations of Staudinger and Ruzicka3 are based on the
isolation of the pyrethrins as semicarbazones, which are practically their
onl;y known crystalline derivatives. The best starting material available
to them for the preparation of the semicarbazones was a concentrate con-
taining 50-60 per cent. of total pyrethrins present in about equal amounts,
from which concentrate a mixture of the semicarbazones of both pyrethrins
was obtained. The semicarbazone of pyrethrin I proved to be the less
soluble, and by repeated recrystallization it was possible, with great loss
* Pyrethrin I was determined by the method of Seil, Soap, 10, no. 5, 89 (1934);
pyrethrin I1 by the method of Haller and Acree, Ind. Eng. Chem., Anal. Ed., 7 , 343
(1935).
STAUDINGER, H., AND RUZICKA, L., Helv. Chim. Acta, 7 , 177 (1924).
40 H. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
of material, to obtain preparations of it which approached the state of
purity. When the semicarbazone was hydrolyzed, the free ester, pyr-
ethrin I, was obtained. This product when distilled under reduced pres-
sure, on analysis, agreed fairly well with the formula C21H3003, but it
yielded only 50 per cent. of a semicarbazone apparently identical with the
one from which it was obtained. The semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 was
not obtained in a state even approximating purity.
Staudinger and Ruzicka, in their principal investigations on the struc-
ture of the pyrethrins, employed the semicarbazone mixture that had been
freed from extraneous material by crystallization. Since the cyclic ketonic
alcoholic component, pyrethrolone, was shown to be common to both
pyrethrins, its semicarbazone could be obtained by saponification of the
mixture of semicarbazones of both the pyrethrins, and the acid components
could be isolated and separated subsequently. The pyrethrins themselves
were then resynthesized from pyrethrolone and the respective acid com-
ponents, chrysanthemum acid and chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid
methyl ester. Although these resynthesized pyrethrins possessed high
insecticidal properties, they did not yield satisfactory semicarbazones,
and it is doubtful that they represent the natural unaltered toxic principles.
As a more careful study of the semicarbazones seemed indicated, the
present investigation of their isolation and properties was undertaken
with the employment of the concentrates now available in which the pyr-
ethrins had been to a large extent segregated. We first turned our atten-
tion to the preparation of the semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 from the
80-87 per cent. concentrates.
PYRETHRIN I1 SEMICARBAZONE
Instead of using sodium acetate, as did Staudinger and Ruzicka, we
employed pyridine after we found that better yields of the semicarbazone
were obtained with this base. Contrary to what was expected from
reports in the literature, the semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 was readily
obtained in quantitative yield and practically pure from the pyrethrin 11
concentrate. The same compound is also obtained when sodium acetate
is employed. The semicarbazone was easily recrystallized and melted
sharply at 165". I ts composition as shown by analysis agreed with the
formula C23H33N305 or C23H31N30~. On saponification in methyl-alcoholic
solution under the conditions prescribed by Staudinger and Ruzicka, it
yielded the semicarbazone of pyrethrolone that melted at 208" with decom-
position and had the other physical properties described by these authors.
The free ester, pyrethrin 11, was obtained from its semicarbazone by
hydrolysis with aqueous oxalic acid solution, the method used by Stau-
dinger and Ruzicka to obtain pyrethrin I from its semicarbazone. This
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 41
method is unsatisfactory, because it involves partial saponification and
decomposition, and the yield of crude ester is only 30 per cent. of the
theory. Various experiments were made by these authors and also by us,
but without discovering a more satisfactory method of hydrolysis. I t
appclars, however, that whatever of the pyrethrin I1 that survives the treat-
ment, is essentially unaltered, because when the crude product is again con-
verted into the semicarbazone the original compound is regenerated in good
yield.
The pyrethrin I1 that we obtained by molecular distillation of the
pyrethrin I1 concentrate, as mentioned above, had the composition re-
quired for pyrethrin 11, C23H3006or C23H2806, as shown by analysis, and
a preliminary test against flies made by F. L. Campbell, of the Division
of Control Investigations of this Bureau, showed it to possess a high order
of toxicity. When treated with semicarbazide under the same conditions
as those used to prepare pyrethrin semicarbazones, a product was obtained
that crystallized only partly on complete removal of the solvent and
that was evidently different from the semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 de-
scribed above. It must be concluded that some intramolecular change
took place on distillation.
When the semicarbazone preparation was saponified, it yielded only an
insignificant amount of pyrethrolone semicarbazone, indicating that some
change had taken place in that part of the molecule.
PYRETHRIN I SEMICARBAZONE
The semicarbazone of pyrethrin I was obtained from the pyrethrin I
concentrate by the method employed for the preparation of pyrethrin I1
semicarbazone. This concentrate is of lower total pyrethrin content than
that of pyrethrin I1 and contains, besides a large amount of noncrystalline
products, a considerable quantity of the crystalline (nontoxic) pyrethrol.
The latter crystallizes on standing and may be removed to a large extent
by filtration. After 24 hours the semicarbazone formation was finished
and the separation of the crystalline product was completed by cooling in
a freezing mixture. The crude product was thus obtained in about quan-
titative yield, based on the total pyrethrin content of the concentrate. An
additional quantity was obtained from the mother liquor as described in
the Experimental Part. This material is much less pure and may contain
substances other than pyrethrin semicarbazones. The main portion,
after washing and drying, melted at 90-100". The material is difficult
to purify. Although it can be readily crystallized from a number of
solvents such as acetone, alcohol, and toluene, it is only by repeated re-
crystallization that a fairly pure product is obtained. After two recrystal-
lizations from acetone and one from alcohol or toluene, it melts not very
42 H. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
sharply at about 112-1 14'. By further recrystallization the melting
point can be raised to 118'. We have never obtained a sample entirely
free of methoxyl, the quantity found indicating the presence of roughly
10 per cent. pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone, this in spite of the fact that the
latter is very soluble in the solvents employed. The analytical results
made on various samples agree only approximately with the formula,
CnH33N303.
I n an attempt to obtain the semicarbazone of pyrethrin I in pure con-
dition, the material was hydrolyzed with aqueous oxalic acid solution as
described in the case of the pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone. The yield of
the free ester in this case was also about 30 per cent. The material was
then reconverted into the semicarbazone, which was obtained in good
yield, and the properties of the regenerated semicarbazone were the same as
those of original material, the melting point being about 115-117". When
the crude pyrethrin I obtained from the semicarbazone in a similar experi-
ment was distilled under a reduced pressure of about 1 mm. and the semi-
carbazone was prepared from the distillate, a yield of only 50 per cent.
was obtained. After recrystallization it melted at about the same tem-
perature as the original semicarbazone. The low yield indicates that
pyrethrin I is also to a large degree altered by distillation. However,
the fact that the semicarbazone isolated has the same properties as the
original semicarbazone indicates that at least part of the pyrethrin I sur-
vives the distillation unaltered. The analytical results obtained for these
regenerated semicarbazones showed significant divergences from the re-
quirements of the formula C22H33N303. When the semicarbazone of
pyrethrin I is dissolved in carbon tetrachloride, it separates in the form
of long needles and exhibits physical properties different from those of
the original material. The substance has not yet been thoroughly in-
vestigated.
SEMICARBAZONE OF PYRETHROLONE
The semicarbazones of pyrethrin I1 and pyrethrin I give the semicar-
bazone of pyrethrolone in quantitative yield on saponification in methyl-
alcoholic solution with 1 mol of sodium ethylate under the conditions
prescribed by Staudinger and Ruzicka. This reaction seems to proceed
somewhat more slowly in the case of pyrethrin I. Pyrethrin I1 semicar-
bazone yields the semicarbazone of pyrethrolone and a mixture of about
equal parts of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid and chrysanthemum
dicarboxylic acid monomethyl ester in the form of their water-soluble
sodium salts and also a considerable quantity of chrysanthemum dicar-
boxylic acid dimethyl ester. That the saponification of the mixed semi-
carbazone proceeds in this manner has already been pointed out by
Staudinger and Ruzicka.
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 43
Pyrethrin I semicarbazone yields, besides pyrethrolone semicarbaxone,
the monobasic chrysanthemum acid, which is volatile with steam. When
large quantities are saponified, a small amount of a nonvolatile acid is
obtained which has not yet been identified.
For the isolation and identification of small quantities of chrysanthemum
acid and chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid, it has been found convenient
to take advantage of the fact that both form crystalline paraphenyl-
phenacyl esters. A corresponding crystalline derivative of chrysanthe-
mum dicarboxylic acid methyl ester has not been obtained.
Pyrethrolone semicarbazone crystallizes well from acetone, ethyl ace-
tate, or methyl alcohol. It is difficultly soluble in all these solvents, in
which it forms supersaturated solutions. The compound is easily purified,
and melts at a little above 200" with gas evolution. We have found the
deconiposition point to be about 208".
Pyrethrolone semicarbazone has been assigned the formula C12H19N302
by Staudinger and Ruzicka on the basis of three reported analyses. The
figures reported by them agree fairly well with this formula, although
those for hydrogen are low by more than the limit of error. I n our first
few analyses of this compound we observed a still lower hydrogen content
and a, higher carbon content than are required by the above formula. I n
fact, our own analyses agree within experimental error with a formula
with two less hydrogen atoms, i.e., C12H17N302. Having noted the dis-
crepancy, we made a large number of combustions, by both the micro
and semimicro methods, on several samples of this compound, all of
which confirmed the formula with 17 hydrogen atoms. The theoretical
differences between the two formulas in question are 0.39 per cent. for
carbon and 0.78 per cent. for hydrogen.
HYDROGENATION OF PYRETHROLONE SEMICARBAZONE
The structural formula of pyrethrolone semicarbazone, according to
Staudinger and Ruzicka, is
CHCH2CH=C=CHCHs
C=N-NHCONHz HOHC-
/ -\
I
H2C
I
On hydrogenation four atoms of hydrogen are added to the double
bonds, giving tetrahydropyrethrolone semicarbazone. We also prepared
this compound by saponification of tetrahydropyrethrin I1 semicarbazone.
44 H. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
I n both hydrogenation experiments the observed volume of hydrogen
absorbed corresponded to the addition of four atoms to pyrethrolone and
pyrethrin I1 semicarbaxones, respectively. The analyses of the hydro-
genated pyrethrolone semicarbaxone obtained by both processes indi-
cate that it should be represented by the formula C12H21N302 instead of
Cl2HZ3N3O2. The theoretical differences between these formulas are 0.50
per cent. for carbon and 0.76 per cent. for hydrogen. The analyses re-
ported by Staudinger and Ruxicka for this compound agree (except for
one hydrogen determination) with the formula Cl2HZ1N302 as found by us.
We have not yet prepared pyrethrolone itself, but it is apparent that the
analyses reported by Staudinger and Ruzicka for this compound agree
best with the formula ClIHls02, although even in this case the hydrogen
content reported is lower than would be expected.
The discrepancies between the accepted formulas for pyrethrolone semi-
carbazone and tetrahydropyrethrolone semicarbazone and the observed
analytical results seem to be of great importance in their bearing on the
structures of these compounds and hence of the pyrethrins themselves.
If pyrethrolone contains two hydrogen atoms less than is now supposed,
a revision of its formula, possibly by the assumption of the presence of a
second ring structure, will be necessary. Such an assumption would
disturb the harmony of the conclusions that have been reached with re-
spect to the part of the pyrethrin molecules that is concerned with pyr-
ethrolone.
EXPERIMENTAL
Pyrethrin 11 semicarbazone has been prepared by us several times with slight
variations in the procedure.
Twenty-four grams of pyrethrin I1 concentrate containing 81per cent. of pyr-
ethrin I1 was dissolved in 80 cc. of 95 per cent. alcohol and 35 cc. of pyridine. A
solution of 10 grams of semicarbaxide hydrochloride in 12 cc. of water was added.
After standing 3 days at room temperature, the solution was diluted with about
3 volumes of water and extracted with ether. The ether solution was washed several
times with water, then with dilute hydrochloric acid, and again with water. It
was then dried and evaporated on the steam bath. Crystallization began when most
of the ether had been removed, and was completed by cooling in the ice box. The
crystalline material was removed by filtration and washed by suspending in ether
and again filtering. The ether washings together with the first mother liquors viere
evaporated to a syrup, which readily crystallized, and the separated material was
filtered from the syrupy mother liquors with suction on silk. The crystals were
washed with ether and dried. Both crops melted at 163-164". The total yield was
16.5 grams, or 75 per cent. of the theory. The pure compound is very difficultly
soluble in ether, but it can be recrystallized by dissolving in a large volume of the
solvent and evaporating to a smaller volume. It can be crystallized from 95 per
cent. alcohol, in which i t is much more soluble. It is still more soluble in the other
common solvents.
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 45
I n another experiment the proportions employed were 45 grams of concentrate
containing 79.5 per cent. of pyrethrin 11, 150 cc. of 95 per cent. alcohol, 65 cc. of
pyridine, 18 grams of semicarbazide hydrochloride, and 20 cc. of water. The yield
of material with the same melting point as that from the previous experiment was
33.5 grams, or 81 per cent. of the theoretical 41.3 grams.
I n a third experiment 49 grams of pyrethrin I1 concentrate was dissolved in 175 cc.
of 95 per cent. alcohol, 75 cc. of pyridine, and 20 grams of semicarbazide hydro-
chloride in 25 cc. of water was added. After 2 days most of the solvents were re-
moved by distillation under reduced pressure, and the separated crystal mass was
suspended in water and filtered off on suction. The material was washed with water
and then suspended in ether; the crystals were filtered off and again washed with
the same solvent. The
ether mother liquor and washings were washed with water, dilute hydrochloric acid,
and again with water, dried, and concentrated to a syrup. The syrup was allowed
to crystallize, after which the solid material was removed by filtration with suction
on silk. An additional quantity of material was thus obtained, which after washing
with ether amounted to 8.9 grams. The total yield was therefore 38.4 grams, or
97 per cent. of the theory.
Crystals are seldom obtained directly from the pyridine-alcohol solution. This
sometimes occurs, however, when the concentrate employed is of the order of 85-
87 per cent. pyrethrin 11. One recrystallization gives an analytically pure product
melting at 164-165".
The yield of practically pure material was 29.5 grams.
Anal. Calc'd for C23H33N306: C, 64.03; H, 7.66; Tu' , 9.74.
Found: C, 64.19, 64.19, 64.46, 64.40, 64.19; H, 7.51, 7.64, 7.37, 7.40, 7.45;
Pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone is also obtained from the same concentrates with
the employment of sodium acetate instead of pyridine, the preparation having been
repeated under the conditions employed by Staudinger and Ruzicka to show that
pyridine has no influence on the product obtained. The yield, however, is smaller
when sodium acetate is used. Two parallel experiments were made with a concen-
trate containing 84.1 per cent. of pyrethrin 11, pyridine being employed in one and
sodium acetate in the other.
Three and three-tenths grams of the concentrate was dissolved in 10 cc. of alcohol
and <5 cc. of pyridine, and to this solution 1.2 grams of semicarbazide hydrochloride
in 1. 5 cc. of water was added. After standing 2 days the solution was diluted with
water and the separated material was extracted with ether. The solution was
washed with water and dilute acid, dried, and the solvent evaporated. The crystal-
line material was recrystallized from ether. The yield was 1.6 grams, and the
melting point 165'.
Three grams of the same concentrate was dissolved in 10 cc. of alcohol, and solu-
tions of 2 grams of sodium acetate in 1.5 cc. of water and 1.2 grams of semicarbazide
hydrochloride in 1.5 cc. of water were added. After 2 days the reaction product was
isolated as described above and 0.8 gram of recrystallized material was obtained.
I t melted likewise at 165".
hrydrolysis of pyrethrin ZZ semicarbazone.--?'wo and nine-tenths grams of pyr-
ethrin I1 semicarbazone was shaken at 100" for 7 hours with a solution of 6 grams of
oxalic acid in 40 cc. of water. The reaction product, a dark-red oil, was extracted
from the aqueous solution with petroleum ether. A large amount of tar remained
undissolved. The petroleum-ether solution was washed first with potassium car-
bonate solution and then with water, dried, and evaporated. The resulting red oil
C23HaiN305: C, 64.34; H, 7.27; N, 9.79.
N, 9.85, 9.69.
46 H. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
gave a qualitative test for nitrogen. It was reconverted into the semicarbazone by
dissolving in 3.5 cc. of alcohol and 1.5 cc. of pyridine and adding 0. 4 gram of semi-
carbazide hydrochloride in 0.5 cc. of water. After 2 days the reaction mixture was
worked up in the manner already described, and gave 0.5 gram of recrystallized
semicarbazone, m.p. 163". When mixed with pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone (m.p.
165"), the melting point was 163".
Semicarbazone from the pyrethrin I I obtained by molecular distillation.-One and
eight-tenths grams of a pyrethrin I1 preparation that had been twice distilled in the
Hickman still,* and which from analysis by the methoxyl method contained 97.7
per cent. of pyrethrin 11, was dissolved in 20 cc. of alcohol, and 2.7 cc. of pyridine
and a solution of 0.7 gram of semicarbazide hydrochloride in 1 cc. of water was added.
After 3 days water was added and the reaction product was extracted with ether.
The ether solution, after being washed with acid and water, gave on evaporation
1.2 grams of a colorless syrup. After several days this syrup only partly crystal-
lized, but i t was not possible to isolate the crystalline material. It was dissolved
in 10 cc. of methyl alcohol to which 6 cc. of a 1 per cent. solution of sodium methylate
(1 mol) was added. After about 10 days the small quantity of separated crystals
was filtered off and recrystallized from acetone. The quantity of pure substance was
about 0.1 gram. It melted at 205" with decomposition, in agreement with the
melting point of pyrethrolone semicarbazone. Since this compound is obtained in
quantitative yield from the semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 under the conditions de-
scribed, i t is apparent that some change has taken place in the process of distillation
of pyrethrin 11.
Hydrogenation of pyrethrin I I semicarbazone.-Two grams of pyrethrin I1 semi-
carbazone, m.p. 165", was hydrogenated with platinum oxide catalyst in ethyl
acetate solution. After 15 minutes 205 cc. of hydrogen, corresponding to four atoms,
had been absorbed and the reaction had stopped. The solvent was removed under
reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in ether. The material obtained after
evaporation of the ether crystallized on treatment with dilute ethyl alcohol. The
crude product was washed with a little cold dilute potassium carbonate solution
and, after drying, was recrystallized by dissolving in 20 parts of warm ethyl alcohol,
filtering, and slowly adding 8 to 10 parts of warm water. It melted at 139-140O".
Anal. Calc'd for C23H37N305: C, 63.45; H, 8.50.
Found: C, 63.43, 63.36; H, 8.14, 8.11.
The same compound was obtained from the hydrogenated pyrethrin I1 concen-
trate on treatment with semicarbazide in alcohol-pyridine solution. Two and four-
tenths grams of a pyrethrin I1 concentrate with about 82 per cent. pyrethrin I1 was
hydrogenated with platinum oxide catalyst in ethyl acetate solution. After 45
minutes 322 cc. of hydrogen had been absorbed and the reduced material was sepa-
rated from the solvent. The material was dissolved in 8.5 cc. of alcohol and 3.6 cc.
of pyridine to which 1 gram of semicarbazide hydrochloride in 1.5 cc. of water was
added. After standing 2 days the semicarbazone was isolated by means of ether
and recrystallized from dilute alcohol. It melted at 141-142'. When mixed with
the product obtained by direct hydrogenation of pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone, the
mixture melted at 141-142". The two substances are therefore identical.
C23H3~N305: C, 63.74; H, 8.08.
Anal. Calc'd for C23H~7N306: C, 63.45; H, 8.50.
Found: C, 63.72, 63.56, 63.50, 63.33, 63.59; H, 8.10, 8.14, 8.09, 8.12, 8.09.
C23H36N806: C, 63.74; H, 8.08.
* See LaForge and Hallera.
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 47
Saponification of hydrogenated pyrethrin ZZ semicarbazone.-One and two-tenths
grams of hydrogenated pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone was dissolved in 30 cc. of methyl
alcohoI, and 1 cc. of methyl-alcoholic sodium methylate containing 0.01 gram of
sodium was added. After being kept for 12 days in the ice box, the solvent was
removed under reduced pressure and the residue washed with ether and then with
water. It was recrystallized from ethyl acetate and melted with decomposition
at 196".
And. Calc'd for C12H23x302: C, 59.75; H, 9.54.
Found: C, 60.20, 60.05; H, 8.90, 8.76.
C12H21N302: C, 60.25; H, 8.78.
Pyrethrin Z semicarbazone.-Fifty-five grams of pyrethrin I concentrate from
which pyrethrol had been removed by cooling and filtering on silk, and which con-
tained 45 per cent. of pyrethrin I and about 14 per cent. of pyrethrin 11, was dis-
solved in 190 cc. of alcohol and 83 cc. of pyridine. A solution of 22 grams of semi-
carbazide hydrochloride in 27 cc. of water was added, and the solution was allowed
to stand at room temperature for 24 hours. It was placed in the ice box overnight
and the crystallization completed by cooling in a freezing mixture. The crystalline
material was removed by filtration and washed with cold alcohol, then with dilute
acid, and finally with water. The dried material weighed 32 grams. The alcoholic
mother liquor and alcoholic washings were concentrated under reduced pressure,
after which water was added, causing the separation of an oily product which partly
crystallized on cooling. It was agitated with petroleum ether, which dissolved the
liquid products, leaving a crystalline material which was removed and washed with
petroleum ether. It weighed 12 grams. The first crop of crystals was recrystallized
twice from acetone and once from alcohol and melted at about 112". The material
obtained from the mother liquors has a lower melting point and is very soluble in
most reagents. It probably is a mixture of pyrethrin I semicarbazone with the
semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 and other unknown products.
Concentrates of pyrethrin I obtained from the intermediate fractions resulting
from the initial separations contain no pyrethrol and are of a higher pyrethrin I
content. The material employed for the two preparations described below contained
57 per cent. of pyrethrin I and 14.8 per cent. of pyrethrin I1 as shown by analysis.
Thirty-two grams of this material was treated with semicarbazide in the same
manner as described above, the proportions of the reagents being: alcohol 112 cc.,
pyridine 40 cc., semicarbazide hydrochloride 12.8 grams, and water 16 cc. After
standing at room temperature for 24 hours, crystallization was completed by cooling
in a Freezing mixture and the crystals were washed with alcohol, acid, and water.
The yield was 24 grams, and 5.7 grams of the impure material was obtained from
the mother liquor in the manner already described. This impure substance was
dissolved in a small volume of alcohol, out of which 1.3 grams crystallized. It
melted at about 105". The alcoholic solution was evaporated under reduced pres-
sure, leaving a product that was easily soluble in ether but could not be made to
crystallize from this solvent. On addition of petroleum ether a crystalline pre-
cipitate was obtained which melted at about 70, and a methoxyl determination
indicated that it contained 36.7 per cent. of pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone. Eighteen
grams of pyrethrin I concentrate containing 57 per cent. of pyrethrin I obtained
from intermediate fractions was converted into the semicarbazone in the manner
just described, the proportions of reagents employed being alcohol 60 cc., pyridine
27 cc., semicarbazide hydrochloride 7.2 grams, and water 9 cc. The yield of crystal-
line material obtained by direct crystallization, washing, and drying was 13.5 grams,
48 H. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
and 2.5 grams was obtained from the mother liquors by treatment with water and
petroleum ether.
I n all these preparations the total yields of semicarbazones were higher than that
calculated from the total pyrethrin content of the concentrates as found by analysis.
This indicates that substances other than the pyrethrin semicarbazones are present
in the crude crystalline products.
For purification only the material obtained by direct crystallization was em-
ployed, and recrystallization was accompanied by considerable losses in the first
operations. Usually two recrystallizations from acetone and one from alcohol or
toluene gave products melting at 112-114'. By further recrystallization it was
possible to raise the melting point to 117-118". Many analyses of the recrystallized
products have been made.
Anal. Calc'd for C&&303: C, 68.22; H, 8.53.
Found for material with m.p. 114-115':
C, 68.33, 68.50; H, 8.33, 8.37; for material with m.p. 113-114':
C, 68.59, 67.98, 68.58; H, 8.42, 8.17, 8.52.
Quantitative saponification of pyrethrin Z semicarbazone.-Since pyrethrin I semi-
carbazone is the ester of a monocarboxylic acid, it should be possible to determine
the quantity of pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone that might be present by quantitative
saponification. Many attempts were made to accomplish this determination.
When samples of the purest material available were saponified by boiling for a
few minutes with 0.1N alkali and back-titrating with standard acid, values close to
theoretical were obtained. When i t was found that pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone
required 30 minutes boiling with 0.25N alkali for complete saponification and the
pyrethrin I semicarbazone samples were treated with 0.25.V alkali under the same
conditions, the values obtained indicated the presence of about 15 per cent. of pyr-
ethrin I1 semicarbazone. Since the results were not sharp, the figures obtained will
be omitted. It is possible that the semicarbazone of some compound other t,han
pyrethrin 11, difficult to remove by crystallization, is present in the pyrethrin I
semicarbazone preparations.
The great difference in solubility between the semicarbaaones of pyrethrin I and
pyrethrin I1 indicates that the latter should be easily eliminated.
Hydrolysis of pyrethrin I semicarbazone.-Three grams of pyrethrin I semicarba-
zone (m.p. 114"), which had been twice recrystallized from acetone and once from
alcohol, was agitated with a solution of 6 grams of oxalic acid in 40 cc. of water at
100" for 7 hours. The red oil was extracted from the aqueous solution with petroleum
ether, the petroleum ether solution was washed with sodium carbonate, and the
solution dried and evaporated. The material obtained weighed 1.4 grams. It was
dissolved in 5 cc. of alcohol and 2 cc. of pyridine, and 0.6 gram of semicarbazide
hydrochloride in 0.8 cc. of water was added. After 48 hours the solution was cooled
and the crystals were removed and washed with cold alcohol. The yield was 0.9
gram, After recrystallization from acetone, 0.7 gram of crystalline material was
obtained. It softened at 114' and melted at 117-118'.
Anal.
Six grams of the purified semicarbazone of pyrethrin I was agitated for 7 hours
with a Bolution of 9 grams of oxalic acid in 60 cc. of water at 100". The reaction
product, which was isolated and separated from acid constituents, weighed 3.1 grams.
It was distilled at 2 mm. pressure. The quantity of material that distilled at 175-
180" was 1.1 grams. It was converted into semicarbazone, the proportions of re-
agents being the same as in other preparations. The yield of crude crystalline
Calc'd for C22Ha3N303: C, 68.22; H, 8.53.
Found: C, 68.82, 68.66; H, 8.47, 8.45.
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 49
product was 0.55 gram, melting at 105-110". It was recrystallized and melted at
111-~112". The
small yield indicates that part of the material was changed on distillation, yielding
products that do not form crystalline semicarbazones.
No crystalline products could be obtained from the mother liquor.
Anal.
I'yrethrolone semicarbazone by saponijication of pyrethrin 11 semicarbazone.-
Twenty-five grams of pure pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone was dissolved in 100 cc. of
methyl alcohol, and 120 cc. of 0. 5N sodium methylate (1 mol) and 6 cc. of water
were added to the cooled solution. After standing for 5 days in the ice box, the solu-
tion was decanted from the heavy crystalline crust that had formed. The crystalline
material was washed with methyl alcohol and, when dry, weighed 9 grams. The
alcoholic solution was concentrated to a small volume under reduced pressure, and
water was added, causing the separation of a finely divided solid material. The
suspension was extracted with petroleum ether and separated from the solvents by
filtration. After drying i t was combined with the material deposited from the
reaction mixture, and all was recrystallized from methyl alcohol. The recrystal-
lization was accomplished by boiling the finely ground material with about 1 liter
of methyl alcohol under reflux, filtering from a fraction of a gram of insoluble ma-
terial, and concentrating the solution to about 200 cc. The yield of pure material
melting at 208" with decomposition was 12.5 grams, or about the theoretical yield.
Under the given conditions, the substance separates from methyl alcohol in flat
prisms which sometimes are half a centimeter long. It can also be recrystallized
from acetone or ethyl acetate, and in both these solvents the compound is difficultly
soluble and separates on concentration of the solutions.
Calc'd for C22H~3Na03: C, 68.22; H, 8.53; N, 10.85.
Found: C, 68.50, 68.53; H, 8.47, 8.45; N, 10.61.
A.naZ. Calc'd for C~~H~BNSO~: C, 60.77; H, 8.02.
Found: C, 61.39, 61.08, 61.21; H, 7.62, 7.52, 7.53.
C12HiTN302: C, 61.26; H, 7.24.
The aqueous solution obtained on dilution of the concentrated mother liquor
was acidified with hydrochloric acid, and the separated acid products were dissolved
in ether. The ether solution was dried and evaporated, yielding 9 grams of a mix-
ture of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid and its monomethyl ester. These were
sepwated by dissolving the syrupy material in a small volume of chloroform and
addling petroleum ether. Chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid crystallized out on
standing. After recrystallization and drying under reduced pressure at 60", it
melted at 168". The petroleum ether-chloroform solution was evaporated, and the
residue, consisting of about 40 per cent. of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid and
GO per cent. of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid methyl ester as calculated from
the methoxyl content, was dissolved in ether and shaken out with the quantity of
1N alkali calculated to half-neutralize the dicarboxylic acid. The aqueous solution
gave a product that contained 1.27 per cent. of methoxyl corresponding to 11.5 per
cent. of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid methyl ester and, by difference, 88.5 per
cent. of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid. The ether solution yielded a product
that contained 11.55 per cent. of methoxyl, corresponding to 79 per cent. of chrysan-
themum dicarboxylic acid monomethyl ester.
The petroleum-ether solution obtained on extraction of the neutral aqueous sus-
pension yielded on evaporation an oil that distilled under 1 mm. pressure at 100-
102". The yield was 3 grams. It was the dimethyl ester of chrysanthemum di-
carboxylic acid.
Anal . Calc'd for CtrHlsO,: 2CHa0, 27.3.
Found: CHaO, 26.6.
50 R. L. HALLER AND F. B. LAFORGE
Fifteen grams of pure pyrethrin I1 semicarbazone was dissolved in 60 cc. of methyl
alcohol, the solution was cooled, and to it 36 cc. of 0.5N (1 cc. =0.011 gram Na)
sodium methylate (0.5 mol) was added. After standing 3 days in the ice box, the
separated pyrethrolone semicarbazone was filtered off, The alcoholic solution was
concentrated to a small volume under reduced pressure and diluted with water.
The solution together with the suspended crystalline material was extracted with
petroleum ether, and the crystalline material was filtered from the solvents and
added to the substance that had separated from the reaction mixture. The total
yield of dry material was 8.4 grams. It was recrystallized from methyl alcohol.
The petroleum-ether washings were dried and evaporated, yielding 6.1 grams of
chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester. One gram of the mixture of
chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid and i ts monomethyl ester was obtained on acidifi-
cation and extraction of the aqueous solution.
Paraphenylphenacyl ester of chrysanthemum acid.-An alcoholic solution of chrys-
anthemum acid was neutralized with 0.25N alcoholic potash and the calculated quan-
tity of paraphenylphenacyl bromide' was added. The solution was refluxed for
1 hour, cooled, and then diluted with an equal volume of water. The separated
crystalline ester was removed by filtration, washed with water, and dried. The
yield was quantitative. The ester was recrystallized from methyl alcohol and melted
at 65'.
Anal.
Di-paraphenylphenacyl ester of chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acid.-The procedure
for the preparation of this ester was the same as that described for the preparation
of the ester of the monocarboxylic acid. The ester was recrystallized from toluene
or acetone and melted at 154".
Calc'd for Cn'H2603: C, 79.56; H, 7.18.
Found: C, 79.21, 78.87; H, 7.16, 7.09.
Anal.
Pyrethrolone semicarbazone by saponification of pyrethm'n I semicarbazone.-Three
grams of pyrethrin I semicarbazone, m.p. 117", was dissolved in 80 cc. of methyl
alcohol, the solution was cooled, and 6 cc. of methyl-alcoholic sodium methylate
containing 0.06 gram of sodium (1 mol) was added. After being kept in the ice
box for about 2 weeks, the crystalline material was removed by filtration, and, when
dried, weighed 1.1 grams. I t was recrystallized by dissolving in a large volume of
acetone and concentrating the solution to about 60 cc. The dried crystals melted
with decomposition at 210". A mixture with an equal part of the product obtained
from the semicarbazone of pyrethrin 11, showed no depression in the melting point.
Calc'd for C38H3406: C, 77.82; H, 5.80.
Found: C, 77.16, 77.98; H, 5.88, 5.82.
Anal. Calc'd for CI ~HI ~N~OZ: C, 61.26; H, 7.24.
Found: C, 61.14, 60.77, 61.21, 60.89, 61.48;
H, 7.26, 7.16, 7.38, 7.35, 7.41.
The alcoholic mother liquor yielded, on dilution with water, an additional small
quantity of crystalline material and, on acidification and extraction with petroleum
ether, chrysanthemum acid.
Hydrogenation o j pyrethrolone semicarbazone.-one gram of pyrethrolone semi-
carbaaone was dissolved in about 100 cc. of a mixture of ethyl acetate and methyl
alcohol and reduced with 0.2 gram of platinum oxide catalyst. After 30 minutes
200 cc. of hydrogen had been absorbed, corresponding to the saturation of two double
bonds. The solution was filtered and concentrated on the steam bath and readily
DRAKE, N. L., AND BRONITSKY, J ., J . Am. Chem. SOC., 62, 3715 (1930).
CONSTITUENTS OF PYRETHRUM FLOWERS 51
yieldlad the crystalline reaction product. It melted with decomposition at 196".
It was identical with the compound obtained on saponification of hydrogenated
pyret#hrin I1 semicarbazone, as was shown by the mixed melting point 196". Tetra-
hydropyrethrolone semicarbazone is reported to melt at 190". The yield was quan-
titative.
Anal. Calc'd for C12H23NaOz: C, 59.75; H, 9.54.
Found: C, 60.50, 60.65; H, 9.14, 8.69.
Ci2H21N302: C, 60.25; H, 8.78.
SUMMARY
The semicarbazone of pyrethrin I1 has been prepared from the pyrethrin
I1 concentrate obtained by fractionation with immiscible solvents. It is
easily obtained pure and melts at 165". On hydrogenation it yields
tetrahydropyrethrin I1 semicarbazone, which has the formula C23H36N306.
Pyrethrin I1 obtained by molecular distillation does not yield this semi-
carbazone, indicating that distillation produces some intramolecular
change.
Hydrolysis of the semicarbazone with oxalic acid solution yields un-
changed pyrethrin 11, which can be reconverted into the original semi-
carbazone.
The semicarbazone of pyrethrin I has not been obtained in analytically
pure condition. By repeated crystallization a nearly pure preparation
melting at 118" is obtained. The semicarbazone of pyrethrin I yields on
hydrolysis with oxalic acid substantially unchanged pyrethrin I, which
can be reconverted into the original semicarbazone.
Pyrethrin I is in part altered by distillation.
The semicarbazones of both pyrethrins yield the same pyrethrolone
semicarbazone on saponification. Pyrethrolone semicarbazone appears
from a large number of analyses to have the formula C12H17N302 instead
On hydrogenation of pyrethrolone semicarbazone, four atoms of hydro-
gen are absorbed and the resulting tetrahydropyrethrolone semicarbaxone
would be represented by the formula C12H21N302. The same compound is
obtained by saponification of tetrahydropyrethrin I1 semicarbazone.
Chrysanthemum monocarboxylic acid and chrysanthemum dicarboxylic
acid form crystalline paraphenylphenacyl esters, which serve for their
isolation and identification.
of C12HigN302.