34 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



Analysis gave for substance dried at 100°, — 



1. 0.1778 grm. gave 0.1125 gnu. CaSO^. 



2. 0.2275 grm. gave 0.1446 grm. CaSO,. 



3. 0.3049 grm. gave 36.8 cc, nitrogen at 21°.5, and 762.1 mm. pressure. 



Calculated for Found. 



CJI(CH3)N20,Ca 1 2 3 



Ca 18.87 18.61 18.69 



N 13.21 13.68 



The analyses 1 and 2 were made with different preparations. 



If ammouic hydrate be first added, and the calcic salt then precipi- 

 tated by alcohol, the salt contains too little nitrogen A sample 

 prepared in this way gave, on analysis, 20.88 % Ca, and 10.75 % N. 

 So also if the precipitate thrown down by ammonic hydrate in alcoholic 

 solution be dissolved in water, and reprecipitated by alcohol, the per- 

 centage of calcium is increased, and the nitrogen diminished. Analysis 

 gave 20.49 % Ca. 



Inasmuch as the chief point was to prove the formation of methyl- 

 alloxan by this oxidation, I distilled the calcium salt, prepared in the 

 manner described, with potassic hydrate in a current of steam. The 

 ammoniacal distillate readily gave the characteristic isocyanide reaction 

 by heating with alcoholic potash and chloroform. It was neutralized 

 ■with hydrochloric acid, evaporated, and from the residue the methyl- 

 amine chloride separated by absolute alcohol. An analysis of the 

 platinum salt gave — 



0.2160 grm. left on ignition 0.0902 grm. platinum. 



Calculated for Found. 



(CH^Nig.PtCl, 



Pt 41.61 41.76. 



Thus proving that the calcium salt contained the group = N — CH^ . 

 lu further confirmation, I was able to isolate common urea as the 

 secondary product of the methylalloxan formation. After oxidizing 

 with hydrochloric acid and potassic chlorate, the excess of acid was 

 driven off by evaporation at gentle heat, the potassic chloride separated 

 with absolute alcohol, and the alcoliolic solution evaporated to a syrup. 

 The cautious addition of strong nitric acid caused the separation of 

 abundant crystals of urea nitrate in characteristic form. The base, set 

 free as usual with baric carbonate, after recrystallization from water, 

 melted at 129°-130'>. 



