The Mechanism of the Davy Test for Strychnine

Abstract

The chemistry of a spot test for identification of a bioactive compound is important the more if the substance is strychnine. This converts the test in a toxicological assay with forensic application. The Davy test is based on the oxidation of strychnine by means of potassium ferricyanide in the presence of sulphuric acid. This Theoretical Organic Chemistry study reveals the reaction series that occurs during the test, the electron flow is provided step by step. The process is an electron-transfer oxidation, from the alkaloid to the multi-functional final product having two lactams, a ketone and a carboxylic acid. The involved reactions are electrophilic attack to double bond, hydrogen elimination, free radical subtraction, isomerization, alcohol oxidation, epoxide formation, hydrolysis, concerted reaction mechanism to ketone and aldehyde via carbon-carbon fission, and oxidation of aldehyde to carboxylic acid. All is in accordance with the chemical deportment of the involved compounds and is supported by the references.