OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 217 



amines from amides by the method introduced by him, nitriles 

 were sometimes produced, chiefly when working with the amides 

 of the higher fatty acids; but the nitriles thus formed always con- 

 tained one carbon atom less than the amide with which he started, 

 and he considers the amine to be an intermediate product in these 

 cases. In the present instance, however, since the nitrile contains 

 the same number of carbon atoms as the amide, this interpretation 

 of the reaction cannot be applied. The author has no explana- 

 tion to offer. It is worthy of note that the same reaction takes 

 place, whether the alkali used is potassium, sodium, or barium 

 hydroxide. 



The Action of Bromine on Pyromucamide. 



The tetrabromide of pyromucamide is obtained by dropping 

 small portions of powdered pyromucamide into bromine kept cooled 

 below zero. One should use 3.6 parts of bromine to one part of 

 pyromucamide; that is, about five atoms of bromine to one mole- 

 cule of pyromucamide. The liquid becomes thick and should be 

 well stirred. After the pyromucamide has all been added, the 

 excess of bromine is allowed to evaporate, and cold alcohol poured 

 over the well cooled residue. On standing, a pale yellow, finely 

 divided solid is separated from the dark mass. After the latter 

 has been completely broken up, the product is filtered off and 

 washed with ether. The yield is between 50 and 60 per cent of 

 the calculated amount. For further purification the substance is 

 dissolved in ethyl acetate or acetone, and the greater part of the sol- 

 vent distilled off. It is then filtered, and washed again with ether. 

 The substance is thus obtained in minute, colorless, glistening 

 crystals. An analysis gave the following results : — 



I. 0.3417 grm. substance gave 0.1751 grm. C0 2 and 0.0410 grm. 



H 2 0. 

 II. 0.1110 grm. substance gave 0.1950 grm. AgBr. 

 III. 0.4586 grm. substance gave 13.6 c.c. of moist nitrogen at 

 23°. 5 and 765 mm. pressure. 



Calculated for Found. 



C fi H 6 NBr 4 0,. I. II. III. 



13.92 13.98 



H 1.16 1.33 



Br 74.25 74.76 



N .25 3.36 



The substance is therefore the tetrabromide of pyromucamide. 



