The alkaloids of perennial rye-grass (Lolium perenne L.) Part II. The crystal structure of the red form of perloline mercurichloride

Abstract

The structure of the perloline cation C₂₀H₁₇N₂O₃⁺(=AH⁺) has been determined by an X-ray study of the hydrated mercurichloride, (AH)₂HgCl₄,2H₂O. The crystals are orthorhombic, a= 12·83 ± 0·03, b= 18·85 ± 0·05, c = 16·63 ± 0·05 Å, space group Pnan, with four formula units (i.e., eight perloline residues) in the unit cell. Phase determination based on the mercury atom with Fourier and least-squares refinement methods established the constitution of the cation. In the final results the discrepancy R over the 2077 reflections used is 11·15%. The bond lengths and angles have average estimated standard deviations of 0·03 Å and 2°.