144 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



the condenser, so that it is possible ah-eady at this point to accomplish 

 a partial separation of the two products. The distillate was, however, 

 extracted with ether; and the ethereal solution was washed with dilute 

 sodic hydrate, and, after drying with calcic chloride, the ether was dis- 

 tilled off. 9.2 grams of oil were obtained, which was fractioned under 

 reduced pressure. The first portions boiled between 78° and 85° at 

 30 mm. pressure and were oily ; as soon as the distillate begins to 

 solidify, the operation was discontinued, and the residue in the distil- 

 ling flask (4.25 grams) poured out. On cooling, this solidified com- 

 pletely. It was transferred to a clay plate, and washed with a small 

 amount of ligroine, and thus 2.8 grams perfectly pure fi dinitropropane, 

 melting at 55°, were obtained, identical in every particular with the 

 product obtained by V. Meyer and Locher.* 



0.2185 gram, dried over H2SO4 in a vacuum, gave 0.2141 gram COg 



and 0.0941 gram HoO. 

 0.2272 gram gave 43.5 c.cm. N2 at 24° and 753 mm. 



Found. 



26.72 



4.79 



21.27 



The lower boiling oil, which is not volatile without decomposition 

 at ordinary pressure, and which is more volatile with steam than 

 jB dinitropropane, was not analyzed, as it still contained traces of 

 /? dinitropropane. That it consists, however, of ethyluitrolic acid 

 methylester, 



CH3-C=NOCH3, 

 I 

 NO2 



is very probable, and a number of experiments were therefore carried 

 out with the object of isolating this substance directly from the silver 

 and lead salts of ethylnitrolic acid by means of methyliodide, which, 

 however, failed on account of the great instability of the ethylnitrolic 

 acid salts in the presence of water. f 



On adding 11 grams of silver dinitroethane to 50.5 grams ethylio- 

 didi!. reaction sets in immediately, and at the end a very strong smell of 

 acetaldehyde is noticed. Both neutral and acid products are formed : 



* Ann. Chem. (Liebig), CLXXX. 147. 



t V. Meyer, Ann. Chem. (Liebig), CLXXV. 103. 



