The mechanism of Mack test for strychnine identification with manganese dioxide
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City (CDMX), Mexico.
Research Article
World Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2026, 08(02), 001-003.
Article DOI: 10.53346/wjcps.2026.8.2.0016
Publication history:
Received on 17 April 2026; revised on 25 May 2026; accepted on 27 May 2026
Abstract:
Mack test for strychnine identification uses manganese peroxide (manganese dioxide) and concentrated sulphuric acid, giving a series of colours. The oxidation route is lengthy and intricate. The occurring reactions are: electrophilic attack to C=C double bond, reagent elimination as hypomanganous acid, isomerization to conjugated iminium ion, hydration, carbinolamine oxidation, 1-4-addition of manganous acid, epoxide formation, oxirane opening to alcohol and manganese ester, hydrion promoted synchronous mechanism with simultaneous formation of lactam, ketone, and aldehyde. And finally, oxidation of the latter to carboxylic acid. This sequence is in accordance with elemental analysis of the initial and end products.
Keywords:
Carbinolamine; Electrophilic reaction; Epoxide; Hypomanganous acid; Iminium ion; Manganous acid
Full text article in PDF:
Copyright information:
Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0