Scientific Serials

Abstract

Annalen der Chemie una Pharmacie, clix., August 1871. Fittig find Remsen communicate a second paper “On the Constitution of Pipeline and its decomposition products, Piperic Acid and Piperidine;” in the former paper two oxidation products were described, piperonal and piperonylic acid, which stand to each other in the relation of aldehyde and acetic acid. In the present communication several new reactions of these substances are described. — The second note, “A Reaction of free Phenol-hydroxyls,” shows that the benzene derivatives, containing hydroxyl associated with this nucleus, give colours with a neutral solution of ferric chloride; the intensity of the colour produced seems to bear some proportion to the number of free hydroxyl atoms, the more intense colours being produced by bodies containing more than one hydroxyl.—A paper “On the relations between the Glycerin and Allyl compounds,” by Huebner and Mueller follows. They show that the dichlor-hydrin prepared by Berthelot's method is a mixture of two isomeric bodies, one of which boils at 174° and can be obtained in a pure state by the action of hydrochloric acid on epichlor-hydrin, the other boils at 182° and is identical with dichlorallyl alcohol. Both of these compounds yield allyl alcohol when acted on by sodium in the presence of ether. Kraut and Popp have found that if sodium amalgam containing 3 per cent. sodium is placed in potassic hydrate solution, hard cubes are formed, which, however, possess no definite composition; by the action of sodic hydrate solution long needles are obtained, having the composition Na2 Hg12.—A lengthy paper by Hoffmeister follows “On Phenyl Ether and Diphenyloxide.” The former is prepared by the action of nitrous acid on aniline sulphate, the product from which is mixed with phenol when nitrogen is evolved and phenyl ether formed. It can also be produced by the dry distillation of cupric benzoate. Diphenyl oxide is produced by acting on phenol with phosphoric chloride, and again acting on the product with potassic hydrate. A number of substitution products of the two bodies have been prepared, and are here described. —The next paper is “On the Conversion of Acetone into Lactic Acid,” by Linneman and Zotta. This is accomplished by heating dichloracetone with water to 200°, when a considerable proportion of lactic acid is obtained. Ladenburg has prepared stannic triethyl phenyl by the action of sodium on bromobenzol, and stannic triethyl iodide, mixed with ether. It is a colourless liquid, boiling at 254°, which is easily oxidised in the air; it reduces an alcoholic solution of silver nitrate, diphenyl being produced in the reaction. Hydrochloric acid forms with it, benzole and stannic triethyl chloride.—An interesting paper by Friedel and Ladenburg, “On Silico-propionic Acid,” follows. By the action of absolute alcohol on silicic chloride, the chloride of triethylsilicic acid is obtained; sodium added to this compound, mixed with zinc ethyl, yields, on heating, ethyl orthosilico-propionate, Si C2H5 (OC2H5)3. Silico-propionic ether, on treatment with aqueous potassic hydrate, yields silico-propionic acid. It is a white powder resembling silica, from which it is easily distinguished by being combustible. It is soluble in hot potassic hydrate solution, but insoluble in boiling sodic hydrate. This acid is the first representative of a new series of acids, containing the group Si O2H in the place of CO2H.—Translations of two papers by C. E. Monroe follow, the originals of which have already appeared in the American Journals.— The number concludes with a short note “On the Preparation of Creatinine hydrochloride from urine,” by R. Maly. It is purified by combining it with mercuric chloride and decomposing the compound with sulphuretted hydrogen.