The characterisation and determination of nitrogenous organic bases in mixtures with ammonium reineckate

The reaction between nitrogenous organic bases and ammonium reineckate was studied and was found to depend on the basicity of the bases and the pH of the reaction media. An expression is given which relates the dissociation constant pK_b of a base and the pH of the reaction ; when the pK_b of a base is known the pH required for the complex formation can be calculated. The conditions for the formation of reineckates of very weak bases together with the formation of mono and di-reineckates of dibasic substances are given. The separation of bases whose pK_b values are sufficiently far apart and the determination of mixtures of mono- and dibasic substances were effected by pH adjustment of the reaction media. The isolation of strychnine from putrified human livers is also described.