201 Dr. A. W. Hofman on the Organic Bases 



*->' 



1 equiv. Carbazotic acid . . C 12 H 3 N 3 14 

 f4 ... Hyponitrous acid . . ^4^)12 



+ 4- ... Water H 4 Q 4 



It is well known that Laurent obtained by the action of 

 nitric acid upon the hydrate of phenyle, besides carbazotic 

 acid, another nitrogen compound, the nitrophenessic acid, 

 which is formed when ordinary nitric acid is employed. Cya- 

 nol likewise contains all the necessary conditions for the for- 

 mation of this acid, but as yet I have not been able to prepare 

 it. Nitrophenessic acid is readily distinguished from carba- 

 zotic acid by forming a very characteristic salt with ammonia. 



I have yet to notice the decomposition which cyanol under- 

 goes by oxidation with hypermanganate of potash and per- 

 oxides of lead or manganese. These decompositions, how- 

 ever, present nothing remarkable. A solution of hyperman- 

 ganate of potash on the addition of cyanol coagulates into a 

 pasty mass, from the separation of hydrated peroxide of man- 

 ganese. The filtrate contained oxalic acid and the nitrogen 

 of the base in the form of ammonia. 



If a solution of cyanol in sulphuric acid be boiled with per- 

 oxide of lead, carbonic acid is expelled, and the blue liquid 

 acquires the odour of formic acid. Hydrate of lime evolves 

 a large quantity of ammonia when added to the limpid liquid. 



Action of Potassium upon Cyanol. — This metal decomposes 

 cyanol in so remarkable a manner that I cannot at present ex- 

 plain it. The potassium is dissolved, disengaging hydrogen; 

 the whole liquid thickens into a violet-coloured paste, and on 

 its surface float red coloured drops of undecomposed oil. The 

 violet colour soon becomes dirty brown, but we have no evi- 

 dence of the formation of cyanide of potassium. 



When potassium is melted in an atmosphere of the vapour 

 of cyanol, the latter is rapidly decomposed, depositing carbon. 

 By treating the black residue with acids, it gives off' large 

 quantities of hydrocyanic acid, for if a mixture of a protoxide 

 and peroxide salt of iron are added to the solution, a precipi- 

 tate is obtained, which affords, when treated with hydrochloric 

 acid, pure Prussian-blue. 



The facts which I have now passed in review appear to me to 

 prove satisfactorily the identity of cyanol, benzidam, and the base 

 obtained by the dry distillation of indigo and anthranilic acid. 



It is very interesting thus to arrive at the same substance 

 when pursuing paths of investigation so different. Many other 

 organic bodies, which, when first discovered, could be ob- 

 tained only by one process, have afterwards been found to 



