5G MM. Limpricht and Ritter on Thioformic Acid, 



hydrochloric acid and gently heated, the hydride of cinnamyle or 

 oil of cinnamon is produced. The author supposed that a change 

 takes place here analogous to that observed when hydrochloric 

 acid is passed into a solution of an organic acid in alcohol. Hy- 

 drochloric acid acting on one of the aldehydes may produce the 

 compound CIC^H^ or CIC^U^; and this acting on the other 

 aldehyde, would produce hydrochloric acid and hydride of cin- 

 namyle. Adopting the notation used by Chiozza, the change 

 would be thus expressed : — 



CIH -f C7H6 = C1C7HS4-H2 0, 

 Hydrochloric Benzoic Water, 



acid. aldehyde. 



CIC^H^ + C^H^O = cm -f C9H«0; 



Aldehyde. Hydrochloric Cinnamic 

 acid. aldehyde. 



or 



CIH + C2H'*0=C1C^H3 + H20, 



Hydrochloric Aldehyde. ♦ Water, 



acid. 



ClCMi^ + cm^O = CIH + C9H80. 



Benzoic Hydrochloric Cinnamic 

 aldehyde. acid. aldehyde. 



On passing sulphuretted hydrogen over dry formiate of lead, 

 Wohler observed the formation of a body crystallizing in fine 

 needles. This substance has been investigated by Limpricht 

 and Ritter, who consider it to be a new sulphur acid, and they 

 propose for it the name Thioformic acid. In its formation, a 

 portion of the formic acid liberated by the sulphuretted hydrogen 

 from the formiate of lead decomposes with the excess of sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen into the new acid and into water : — 

 C2 H^ OH 2HS = C2 H^ 02 S2 + 2H0. 

 Foraiic acid. New acid. 



But the analyses made do not accord well with each other ; 

 and from the reactions made on the small quantity produced, no 

 useful conclusions can be drawn. The subject requires more 

 complete investigation. 



In acting with nitric acid on oil of anise, it is generally assumed 

 that hydruret of anisyle and oxalic acid are alone formed, thus : — 



C«o 1112 02 + 120 ^ c^^H^O^ + CMi2 08 + 2HO. 

 Oil of anise. Hydruret of anisyle. Oxalic acid. 



But Limpricht and Ritter show that there is a well-marked 

 intermediary stage in the reaction at which an acid containing 

 20 equivs. of carbon is obtained : — 



C^H'«O2 + 6HO + 4O = C20Hi8O»2. 

 Oil of anise. New acid. 



