.'uj\\^\u> [ 531 ] ' m zisng^ JU>^. Obi 



'^ LXIX. Chemical Notices from Foreign Journals, ,.^■^^^■^■.[ 

 By E. Atkinson, Ph.D. J;, 



[Continued from p. 304.] r 



BERTHELOT* has lately made a very important step in the 

 synthesis of organic compounds. Some time ago he showed 

 that by bringing olefiant gas in contact with the elements of 

 water, alcohol was formed. He has now shown that olefiant gas 

 may be produced by the union of its elements, and has thus 

 completely eflfected the synthesis of alcohol by means of the 

 simple bodies which constitute it. 



When a mixture of bisulphide of carbon and sulphuretted or 

 phosphuretted hydrogen is passed over metallic copper heated 

 to dull redness, there are formed hydrogen, marsh gas, a small 

 quantity of naphthaline, and a considerable quantity of olefiant 

 gas. The marsh gas was separated by means of appropriate 

 solvents, and the olefiant gas absorbed by means of bromine. 

 From the bromine compound the olefiant gas was liberated by a 

 method which Berthelot gives, and its identity established by 

 converting it first into sulphovinate of baryta, and then into 

 the benzoic sether. In the above reaction the copper takes sul- 

 phur from the bisulphide of carbon and the sulphuretted hy- 

 drogen, and the carbon and hydrogen thus set free unite to form 

 olefiant gas. The naphthaline, hydrogen, and marsh gas may 

 be considered as products of the decomposition of olefiant gas. 



It must be noticed that the sulphide of carbon is obtained by 

 the direct union of carbon and sulphur. 



In the dry distillation of formiate of baryta, marsh gas, CH^, 

 olefiant gas, C^ H'*, and propylene, C^ H^, are obtained. Now 

 Berthelot has shown f that the formiates are produced by the 

 direct union of carbonic oxide and the elements of water ; and 

 that not only olefiant gas, but also its homologues, may be directly 

 converted into the corresponding alcohols. Here we have another 

 method of the synthesis of alcohol from its elements, for carbonic 

 oxide is formed by the direct union of carbon and oxygen. 



Propylene is also formed when carbonic oxide, CO, and marsh 

 gas, CH^, are heated together to dull redness in a closed tube. 



In the dry distillation of acetate' of soda, olefiant gas, C'^ H"*, 

 propylene, C^ H^ butylene, C^ H^ and a little amylene, C^« Hi«, 

 are obtained. It will be observed that the acetates are prepared 

 from alcohol, which in turn is prepared from olefiant gas. From 

 these various carburetted hydrogens, as was before said, their 

 corresponding alcohols may be obtained. Hence we have the 

 means of building up from one alcohol other and higher alcohols. 



i,^ ^iwO,. , .y ^ Comptes Rendus, July 28, 1856. 



t Phil. Mag. July, 1856. 



