DIE FARBSTOFFE DES MUTTERKORNS¹

Summary

The yellow, red and purple pigments of ergot of rye, which can be extracted by organic solvents were investigated.

An orange pigment, C₁₆H'₀O₇ was proved to be identical with endocrocin (1,6,8–trihydroxy–3–methylanthraquinon–2–carboxylic acid). Glavorubin, a red pigment isomeric with endocrocin, must be either 1,4,8–or 1,5,8–trihydroxy–3–methylanthraquinon–2–carboxylic acid.

Secalonic acid, a yellow pigment C₃₀H_30–32O₁₄, is probably a dimeric compound built up from two identical halfs with a chromon structure.