The structure of nicotine blue from Arthrobacter oxidans

Summary Nicotine blue was separated into two major components. Their chromophores are anions of the diazadiphenoquinones (1) (nicotine blue I) and (2) (nicotine blue II). The dihydrate of the potassium salt of (1) is the major component of the extracellular crystals which are excreted on a solid medium. The acid-labile nicotine blue II is water-soluble and the main coloring agent of the agar and culture broth respectively.