Synthetic dl-Lysergic Acid (14)
A mix of 9-carbomethoxy-7-methyl-4,5,5a,6,6a,7,8,9-octahydroindolo-[4,3-fg]-quinoline
(13) [D-LAME], 3.9 g, and 78 mL of 1.5% potassium hydroxide solution was
refluxed for 30 min
under nitrogen. Hydrated sodium arsenate, 8.5 g, and Raney nickel (16 g, wet), previously deactivated by boiling in xylene suspension, was added, and the mix was heated under
reflux and stirred in a nitrogen atmosphere for 20 hours in 200 mL RBF with reflux condenser. The solution was treated with carbon, and the crude lysergic acid
(14) was precipitated by neutralization to pH 5.6. It was filtered and washed with water;
yield 1.04 g, MP: 240-242 °C dec. A second crop, 0.16 g, MP: 233-235 °C dec. was also obtained;
total yield 30%. The acid could be purified by dissolving it in dilute ammonium hydroxide, treating with decolorizing carbon, and reprecipitating with carbon dioxide., MP: 242-243 °C dec; a mix with dl-lysergic acid made from natural d-lysergic acid was likewise 242-243 °C dec. The anhydrous acid was obtained by drying in vacuo for several hours at 150 °C.