PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISON: VIII. SOME CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PURIFIED CLAM AND MUSSEL POISONS

Mild reduction of purified clam and mussel poisons with hydrogen yielded a nontoxic dihydro derivative. The poisons and the dihydro derivative showed no absorption in the ultraviolet but all absorbed in the infrared at 3, 6, and 9 μ. Mild oxidation of the poisons in alkaline solution produced nontoxic products with strong absorption in the ultraviolet. Preliminary studies on oxidation with permanganate or periodate and on hydrolysis with acid yielded only small fragments such as guanidopropionic acid, urea, guanidine, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. Titration of the poisons and the dihydro derivatives showed pKa values at 8.1 and 11.5. The two poisons appear to be similar in their chemical and physical properties.