182 Drs. Muspratt and Hofmann on Toluidine. 



a series of investigations concerning the action of sulphuret 

 of ammonium upon various bodies containing, like nitro- 

 naphthalase and nitrobenzide, the elements of peroxide of 

 nitrogen. 



There occurred in this inquiry some questions the answers 

 to which appeared of interest. Above all, it was necessary to 

 decide whether the transformations suffered by niironaphtha- 

 lase and nitrobenzide were identical with those of all simi- 

 larly constituted bodies. Secondly, it was requisite to ascer- 

 tain how hydrocarbons behave in which more than one equi- 

 valent of hydrogen is replaced by peroxide of nitrogen. Here 

 very different results might be imagined. Lastly, it was of 

 the greatest value to study the properties of those bodies re- 

 sulting from treating with sulphuret of ammonium the pro- 

 ducts of the action of nitric acid upon oxides of hydrocarbons. 



The following is the first of a series of investigations made 

 with regard to the preceding statements. The experiments 

 were performed in the Giessen laboratory, and therefore we 

 cannot refrain from expressing our greatest thankfulness to 

 Professor Liebig for his kind assistance and counsel during 

 the course of them. We commenced by a careful repetition 

 of Zinin's experiments upon the formation of naphthalidine, 

 and have procured this body possessing all the properties 

 ascribed to it by that chemist. As to the production of ani- 

 line from nitrobenzide, every information has already been 

 given upon that subject*; in fact, we must confirm Zinin's 

 statements in every respect. From among the numerous 

 carbo-hydrogens offering themselves for an investigation we 

 selected two, which, from their particular analogy with benzole, 

 seemed most appropriate for carrying out our object. These 

 are toluole and cumole. We shall in this treatise communicate 

 the experiments upon toluole. 



Preparation of Toluole. 



Toluole was some years ago recognised by Devillef among 

 the products of the distillation of Tolu balsam, and this chemist 

 described it under the name benzoene, which indeed is not 

 happily chosen. Berzelius| has given to this body the name 

 toluine or toluole, which last we shall retain in our commu- 

 nications. We have proceeded in the preparation of toluole 

 according to the directions of Deville, which we willingly 

 confirm. Eighteen to twenty pounds of the balsam of Tolu 



* Vide Hofmann's investigation upon Coal-gas Naphtha, Philosophical 

 Magazine, vol. xxiv. pp. 115, 193, 261. 



f /Inn. de Chim. et Phys. 3 ser. vol. iii. p. 168. 

 ij; Jahresbericht, vol. xxii. p, 354. 



