M. Berthelot on the Compounds of Mannite with Acids » 535 



^' ' 2(C2o ^p 02) = C14 H^ 02 + 6H CI + C'* H8 -f 2Cp + C^^j^j 



Pentachlorinated Quadrichlori- BiformeuCk j^py^.^^^v 



thymole. nated benzinole. 



From biformene a large number of new bodies may be obtained, 

 and from it, as from propylene, a new series of alcohols may be 

 derived. 



n;-j By the action of chlorine a heavy setherial liquid is obtained, 

 boiling at 102° C, and having the formula C^ H^ CP ; this, acted 

 upon by potash, gives rise to the formation of a light volatile 

 liquid, of an setherial alliaceous odour. Its formula is C'* H^Cl, 

 or that of monochlorinated biformene. Bromine and iodine act 

 on biformene in the same manner as chlorine. 



When the iodine compound of biformene, C'* H^ P, is placed 

 in contact with oxide of silver, a considerable action ensues; a 

 liquid is obtained having an odour like that of wood- spirit, and 

 which gave on analysis numbers corresponding to the formula 

 C^ H^ 0^, which would be dimethylic alcohol. By acting on mo- 

 nobrominated biformene, C* H^ Br, with oxalate of silver, bromide 

 of silver and the oxalate of the new alcohol are obtained. This 

 gives, on treatment with ammonia, oxamide and the new alcohol. 



When potash is enclosed with monobrominated biformene in 

 a sealed tube, and exposed to a temperature of 100° C, the 

 sether of the new alcohol is formed. It is a dense gas, burning 

 with a white flame, and is only slightly soluble in alcohol. 



Sulphuric acid absorbs about 200 times its volume of bifor- 

 mene, which is not separated on the addition of water. On the 

 addition of carbonate of baryta, a salt is obtained analogous to 

 sulphovinate of baryta, of the formula 2S0^, C"^ HgO, BaO. By 

 appropriate treatment it will give the alcohol C^ H^^ 0^. 



Berthelot* publishes a continuation of his researches on the 

 neutral compounds of saccharine matters with the acids. He has 

 produced with mannite and the acids, a series of compounds 

 analogous to those formed by glycerine and the acids. These 

 compounds are produced in general by the direct action of the 

 two substances, in closed tubes, and at a temperature of 200° to 

 250° C. It is by the same method as that by which, according 

 to Berthelot^s experiments, the artificial neutral fatty matters and 

 the compound aethers are formed. These new compounds are 

 separated and purified like the glyceric compounds, by taking 

 advantage of their neutrality, their resistance to alkalies, and 

 their insolubility in sether. They are so similar in appearance 

 to the glyceric series, that they might readily be confounded. 

 They have the same general aspect, a like fusibility, and analogous 



* Annates de Chimie et de Physique^ August 1856. 



