II. Contributions towards the history of thiobenzamide

Abstract

When a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through a solution of benzonitrile in alcoholic ammonia, the liquid, after the lapse of a few hours, deposits fine yellow needles, which are the thiobenzamide, C 7 H 7 NS = C 7 H 5 S} N H} N H} N, discovered by M. Cahours. It can be obtained in a pure state by recrystallization from boiling water. When a cold saturated alcoholic solution of this body is mixed with an alcoholic solution of iodine, the latter is immediately decolorized with separation of sulphur. If the addition of iodine solution be continued until even after a short boiling free iodine remains, which can readily be detected by starch-paste, the solution filtered from the sulphur, and poured into water, solidifies to a mass of white interlaced needles, which can readily be freed from adhering hydriodic acid by washing with cold water.