222 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



The parahromhenzylacetate ( C^H^Br. CH,, C.ylT.. 0^) was not obtained in 

 a condition pure enough for analysis. On adding water to the alco- 

 holic solution left after boiling parabrombenzylbromide with sodic 

 acetate and absolute alcohol, a more or less dark-colored oil which did 

 not attack the eyes or nose was precipitated : this was dried and frac- 

 tioued. In the first rectification the greater part came over at about 

 253°, but on fractioning again a considerable portion came over at 

 lower temperatures ; the ofteuer it was distilled, the less constant 

 became the boiling-point, and after several distillations crystals ap- 

 peared both in the residue and distillate, while nearly one quarter of 

 the entire amount came over below 100'^, and another quarter below 

 247° ; all these fractions attacked the eyes with great energy, whereas 

 the acetate before fractioning did not possess this property ; the crys- 

 tals were little white needles which dissolved readily in ammonic 

 hydrate, and gave a silver salt which was analyzed. 0.2822 gr. of the 

 salt gave 0.1009 gr. of Ag. 



Required for CgH^Br. COO Ag. Found. 



Silver 35.06 35.75 



As the acid melted at 240° to 250°, there could be no doubt that it 

 was parabrombenzoic acid. Unfortunately the amount of parabrom- 

 benzylacetate at my disposal was so small that it was impossible to 

 isolate the other products of this interesting decomposition, and the 

 complete study of this reaction must therefore be postponed until next 

 year, when it will be undertaken in this laboratory. 



The acetate before fractioning was an oily liquid heavier than water, 

 having an agreeable odor distantly resembling that of acetic ether, and 

 burning with a luminous green-bordered flame ; the boiling-point 

 could not be determined with accuracy on account of the decomposi- 

 tion described above, but probably lies between 250° and 260°. 



ParabrombenzyJcyaiiide (GqH^B): CM^CN), was obtained by boiling- 

 parabrombenzylbromide with an alcoholic solution of potassic cyanide 

 as long as potassic bromide was formed ; on addition of water a yellow 

 oil was precipitated, which deposited crystals after standing for some 

 time, and finally solidified completely. The crystals were drained on 

 filter-paper, and j^urified by crystallization from alcohol. Their com- 

 position was determined by the following volumetric nitrogen determi- 

 nation : — 



0.3565 gr. substance gave 20 cc. nitrogen under a pressure of 742 mm., 

 and a temperature of 9^. 



Eequired for C^HgBr.CN. Found. 



Nitrogen 7.10 6.58 



