380 MM. Griess and Leibius on Amido-acids. 



water, and burns when heated, with the flame characteristic of 

 chlorine compounds. 



Acted on by potash, chloride of potassium and trichlorinated 

 amylene are formed, thus : — 



€ 5 H 8 C1 4 + KHG=KC1+€ & H 7 C1 3 + H*0. 



Trichlorinated amylene boils at about 200° ; in other respects it 

 resembles the chloride of trichlorinated amyle. 



Bromine acts on hydride of amyle at 100°, forming similar 

 products. 



By the action of sodium-alcohol on chloroform, Kay obtained 

 a body of the composition Q 7 H 16 3 , which may be regarded as 



the ethylic ether of the triatomic alcohol tt 3 >9 3 , that is, 



/£ 2 tt5x3 f O 3 . Regarding the body in this light, M. Sawitsch* 



has examined the action of acetic acid'upon it, expecting that the 

 reaction would take place in the following manner, and yield the 

 triatomic alcohol : 



(% n"\s\ Q3 + ZG* H 4 0*=3(C 4 H 8 0«) + Q £ZX&. 



V^ " ; J Acetic acid. Acetic ether. XT J J . . 



JNevv alcohol. 



The result, however, did not correspond to this anticipation : the 

 only products of the reaction were formiate and acetate of ethyle, 

 acetic acid, and water; and it appears that the body GH 4 3 

 does not exist in the free state. The action of acetic anhydride 

 on the body gave equally unfavourable results. 



The researches of Hofmann and Cahours have led to the con- 

 clusion that amidobenzoic acid (benzamic acid) comports itself 

 as a base. Griess and Leibius f have examined it from this 

 point of view, and have found that it combines with cyanogen, 

 as does aniline, but the product of the action has acid instead of 

 basic properties. It has the formula C 18 H 7 N 3 O 4 , and is a com- 

 bination of one equivalent of benzamic acid with two equivalents 

 of cyanogen. It does not crystallize, it is insoluble in water, and 

 difficultly soluble in alcohol and ether. It forms salts with bases. 



The authors have found that a great many amido-acids com- 

 bine in a similar manner with cyanogen, as do also their ethers. 



Mucic acid has a composition analogous to that of citric acid, 

 and both acids are decomposed by fusion with potash in a similar 

 manner. How formerly found that the fermentation of citric 



* Societe Chimique de Paris, April 27. 

 t Liebig's Annalen, March 1860. 



