OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 105 



2EN=C^ , HC1. 



3. Phosgene reacts slowly at - 15°, forming quantitatively me- 

 sox-alkylimidechlorides : 



/CI 

 KNO CI. EN=C( 



+ ;co = x co 



KK=C= CV EN=C/ 



X C1 



4. Heated for a few minutes at 100°, acetylchloride adds itself 

 quantitatively as follows : 



CI /CI 



EN=C= + I = RN=C 



CO-CH 3 x CO-CH 3 



5. Benzoylcliloride adds itself slowly at 100° to o-tolylisocy- 

 anide, and benzoylformic-o-tolyliinidechloride is formed: 



CI .CI 



CH 3 -C 6 H 4 -NO + I = CH 3 -C 6 H 4 -N=c' 



CO-C 6 H 6 X COC 6 H 5 



6. On heating with sulphur at 130°, the isonitriles are converted 

 quantitatively into the corresponding mustard oils : 



RN=C= + S = RN=C=S. 



7. Sulphuretted hydrogen reacts at 100°, and forms alkylthio- 



formamides : 



SH 

 KN T <> + H 2 S = KNXT 



X H 



8. Heated for a short time with primary amines, RNH 2 , at 

 180°-220°, the isonitriles are converted into formamidine deriv- 

 atives : 



R-NO + H 2 NR = KN=(T 



X NHR 



The isonitriles are converted by means of nascent hydrogen into 

 secondary amines, RNH-C-H 3 : an intermediate product, RN=CH 2 , 

 has not as yet been isolated. The isonitriles used were made ac- 

 cording to Hofmann's method * from primary amines, caustic pot- 



* Ann. Chem. (Liebig), CXLIV. 114. 



