262 Dr. A. W. Hofinan on the Organic Bases 



II. 0*5967 grm. of chloride of platinum and leucol gave 

 0-1737 grm. of platinum = 29*110 per cent. 



The annexed atomic weights were deduced from these 

 analyses : — i. II. 



1640-57 1663-44 



The arithmetic mean of which does not differ much from the 

 calculated atomic weight 164228. 



Leucol therefore contains no oxygen, and it is thus analo- 

 gous in its chemical composition to the other volatile bases, 

 with which it possesses a great similarity in its reactions. 



A short time after I had commenced the investigation of 

 this base, I was inclined to consider it the same as that which 

 Gerhardt* obtained by the action of hydrate of potash on 

 quinine, cinchonine and strychnine. The composition of chi- 

 noiline in 100 parts is not very different from leucol, and the 

 two bodies possess a strikingly similar odour. Nevertheless I 

 soon convinced myself that they were totally distinct, their be- 

 haviour towards a solution of chromic acid being quite dissi- 

 milar ; for whilst chinoiline and its salts give a beautiful orange- 

 yellow crystalline precipitate, leucol is oxidized and converted 

 into a black resinous oil. 



Properties of Leucol. 



This base can be obtained sufficiently pure by distillation. 

 Having noticed, however, the difference between the cyanol 

 procured from its salts and that obtained by distillation, I se- 

 parated leucol from the double salt of mercury (which will be 

 described more minutely hereafter), by treating the solution 

 of this salt in hydrochloric acid with hydrosulphuric acid 

 until the mercury was entirely removed, evaporating and di- 

 stilling with potash. The leucol obtained in this process dif- 

 fered from that purified by distillation only, by having lost the 

 last trace of colour. 



The colourless oil possesses an unpleasant odour, at the 

 same time slightly resembling oil of bitter almonds. Its taste 

 is more burning than cyanol ; it does not solidify at a tem- 

 perature of — 4° Fahr., and is less volatile than cyanol. Its 

 boiling point is 462°*2 Fahr., that is, 134°*6 higher than the 

 other base. 



It burns with a bright smoky flame. Exposed to the air it 

 becomes resinous. It cannot be distilled without leaving a 

 slight yellow residue; owing to this I failed in my attempt to 

 determine the specific gravity of its vapour. Leucol is heavier 

 than cyanol, its specific gravity being 1*081 at 50° Fahr. 



Leucol is still less soluble in water than cyanol ; hot water 

 * Annal. de Chim. et Pkys. 3me ser. vol. vii p. 252. 



