Decomposition of Cuminate of Ammonia by Heat. 461 



Chemical Society a short time since by Dr. Kolbe and Mr. 

 Frankland, has indeed opened a most interesting connexion 

 between these bodies and another class of substances, which 

 hitherto have been obtained by very different processes. The 

 conversion of cyanide of ethyl into metacetonic acid by means 

 of alkalies and acids, seems to indicate that cyanide of ethyl 

 is nothing else than metacetonitryle. This experiment is 

 likely to be of great importance, for it is exceedingly proba- 

 ble that the whole class of substances alluded to must be con- 

 sidered as a class of cyanogen compounds. It is evident that 

 similar considerations may be applied to cyanide of methyl 

 and cyanide of amyl, lately described by Balard ; and the con- 

 version of these cyanides respectively into acetic and caproic 

 acids, which w^e have a right to anticipate on treating them 

 W'ith alkalies or acids, will prove that these compounds are 

 the nitriles of acetic and caproic acids — acetonitryle and 

 capronitryle — which as yet have not been obtained by the 

 action of heat on the ammoniacal salts of these acids. 



The following experiments on the action of heat on cumi- 

 nate of ammonia have been made with the hope of contri- 

 buting to the history of the nitryles, or organic cyanides, as 

 they perhaps should be more correctly designated. 



The cuminic acid employed in my experiments was prepared 

 by the action of solid hydrate of potash on oil of cumin, and 

 the product perfectly freed from the least traces of cymol 

 which it might possibly contain by precipitating the potash 

 salt by hydrochloric acid, dissolving the precipitated cuminic 

 acid in ammonia, reprecipitating by hydrochloric acid, and 

 crystallizing from water. The acid was then dissolved in 

 strong ammonia, and the solution subjected to heat. The 

 first portions which passed over, although consisting chiefly 

 of water and ammonia, together with cuminate of ammonia, 

 which is always carried over with the steam, presented more 

 or less an opalescent appearance, indicative of traces of the 

 oil. On evaporating the solution in the retort to dryness, a 

 portion of the salt is decomposed, ammonia is evolved, and 

 cuminic acid condenses in beautiful plates upon the sides and 

 neck of the retort, separation going on even on raising the 

 temperature ; but simultaneously another decomposition takes 

 place, water is eliminated, in consequence of Avhich there are 

 produced a peculiar white crystalline body, difficultly soluble 

 in water, and subsequently a colourless oil of a most fragrant 

 odour ; although the operation may seem very simple, expe- 

 rience alone teaches the proper regulation of temperature ne- 

 cessary to obtain these two bodies. 



Cuminamide. — Observing in ray first experiments evolution 

 of ammonia and sublimation of cuminic acid on heating cu- 



