Dr. Kane on Combinations derived from Pyroacetic Spirit. I07 



it may be freed by a little water of potash. It very soon again becomes coloured, 

 iodine at first, and then carbon separating, and hydriodic acid gas being given off. 

 This change takes place equally quick, whether the iodide of mesityl be in con- 

 tact with water or not. In all cases the product is exceedingly impure. I have 

 analyzed very many specimens prepared at different times, and never twice got 

 the same result ; there are always present quantities of mesitic alcohol, mesitic 

 ether, and sometimes mesitylene ; and as the iodide of mesityl cannot be distilled 

 without undergoing a partial decomposition into mesitylene and hydriodic acid, 

 it has been impossible to effect the purification of the distilled product. 



By following a different method of preparation, I have from time to time 

 obtained specimens of this substance, which gave me results approaching closer 

 to the theoretic numbers, than those given by the fluid obtained by distillation. 

 A small quantity of iodine is to be placed in a tube, and about twice its volume 

 of mesitic alcohol to be poured on it ; a piece of phosphorus is to be then 

 dropped in ; the reaction is to be supported for some time by the application of 

 heat, and then water is to be poured into the tube, and the whole shaken together ; 

 a quantity of iodide of mesityl immediately separates, which is purer than any 

 prepared by the process in which the materials are distilled. 



The composition given by theory for the iodide of mesityl is, 



C6= 36.8 21.9 



H5= 5.0 2.9 



I = 126.3 75.2 



168.1 100.0 



When chloride of mesityl is distilled with a solution of sulph-hydrate of 

 potassium in alcohol, there is obtained a yellowish fluid, lighter than water, and 

 containing still a large quantity of unaltered chloride, with some mesitic ether ; 

 but as it possesses a strong disagreeable smell, and gradually deposits sulphur 

 when kept, I think it very likely that a sulphuret of mesityl can be thus formed. 

 The small quantity I had obtained did not allow me to set about the necessary 

 means of purification. 



p 2 



