Opianic Acid — Quinoiline. 449 



matein are formed, but not a trace of hsematoxylin. It is 

 evident, therefore, that the sulphuretted hydrogen enters into 

 combination with haematein, as Chevreul has already stated. 

 The lead and copper compounds of haematein were also treated 

 with sulphuretted hydrogen, but in no case was any reduction 

 visible. A few experiments were made on the action of nas- 

 cent hydrogen, which appeared to have better success. — (Journ. 

 fur Prakt. Chemie, vol. xxvi. p. 193.) 



Opianic Acid. 



Liebig and Wohler have discovered that this body is pro- 

 duced when narcotine is exposed to oxidizing agencies. It is 

 best prepared in the following manner: — Narcotine is dissolved 

 in a considerable excess of dilute sulphuric acid, finely pow- 

 dered peroxide of manganese is added, and the whole heated : 

 it soon begins to assume a saffron-yellow colour and to evolve 

 carbonic acid. It must be heated to boiling, and this tem- 

 perature maintained as long as carbonic acid is evolved. At 

 the end of the operation there must still be excess of oxide of 

 manganese and sulphuric acid. It is filtered while hot ; the 

 liquid on cooling forms a mass of fine acicular crystals; these 

 must be washed with cold water, and purified by re-solution 

 in water and decoloration with animal charcoal. Opianic 

 acid crystallizes in fine silky needles, whose form cannot be 

 determined. Soluble in hot water but not in cold. Soluble 

 in alcohol. Acts as an acid, but has only a weak bitter sourish 

 taste. Fuses easily into an oil which crystallizes on cooling, 

 but if the temperature has been raised above its fusing point, 

 it remains amorphous. Is not volatile. Heated in the air it 

 gives off the same aromatic odouras narcotine; it inflames easily, 

 and burns with deposition of soot. 



It expels carbonic acid from its salts, and forms soluble 

 compounds with all bases ; does not contain nitrogen. Lie- 

 big and Wohler are at present engaged in its more accu- 

 rate examination. — (Journ. fur Prakt. Chem. vol. xxvii. 

 p. 97.) 



Quinoiline. 



Gerhardt boiled one part of quinine with four parts of po- 

 tassa and one of water in a small retort; the mixture became 

 brown, and a heavy yellow oil passed over with the water. 

 Hydrogen is evolved during the process. If the potassa is 

 not allowed to fuse and the water continually replaced, no 

 ammonia is formed. The oil is evidently alkaline, and forms cry- 

 stallizable salts with acids ; with bichloride of platinum it pro- 

 duces a compound soluble in boiling water, which on cooling 

 crystallizes in golden-yellowneedles. Itsformulais C 10 'H 22 N 2 0% 



Phil. Mag. S. 3. Vol. 21. No. 140. Dec. 1842. 2 H 



