520 Transactions. 



The formula suggests that during oxidation two molecules of totarol 

 have condensed and an atom of oxygen has been added. Until further 

 evidence as to the constitution of totarol has been obtained it would be 

 useless to speculate on the relationship of the two compounds to each other. 



Bromine and Iodine Absorption. 



Totarol in chloroform solution absorbs bromine very rapidly. At the 

 same time a little hydrobromic acid is evolved. Very slight temperature 

 differences make such large differences in the percentage of bromine ab- 

 sorbed that it is impossible to state definitely the number of unsaturated 

 " Unkings "" in the molecule. The iodine absorption by Wij's method indi- 

 cates that six atoms of iodine are absorbed by one molecule of totarol. 

 Totarol fielded no definite products when submitted to sulphonation and 

 nitration. 



(2.) PODOCARPUS SPICATUS. 



The occurrence of matai-resinol in the heart-cracks of this species has 

 already been reported (Easterfield and Bee, Trans. Chem. Soc, 1910, 

 p. 1028). The heart-cracks of old matai-trees frequently contain a con- 

 siderable quantity of a liquid known as matai-beer. The liquid can be 

 tapped by means of an auger, and is said to be eagerly drunk by the bush- 

 men. A sample of matai-beer was kindly procured by Mr. Phillips-Turner, 

 Secretary to the Forestry Commission. The liquid was of a light-brown 

 colour ; its smell suggested the presence of butyric or caproic acid, and its 

 taste was styptic and sweetish, followed by a bitter after-taste. 10 c.c. of 

 the liquid left on evaporation a brown sticky residue weighing 0-265 gram. 



10 c.c. required 5 c.c. - sodium hydrate for neutralization. Practically the 

 whole of the acidity disappears during evaporation. 



In a 20 cm. tube the liquid rotated the ray of polarized sodium light 

 0-64:° ; this value was unchanged after the liquid had been heated with 

 hydrochloric acid. 



The liquid instantly reduced Fehling solution in the cold, and gave a 

 silver mirror with ammoniacal silver solution. It reduced mercuric chloride 

 slowly on warming. With phenyl hydrazine in acetic acid it yielded a 

 scarlet crystalline precipitate, but the amount obtained was too small for 

 further examination. Ferric chloride produced a greenish-brown tint. 



For the identification of the volatile acid 250 c.c. were distilled with 

 steam. The distillate exactly neutralized with ammonia and excess of 

 silver nitrate added. Analysis of the micro-crystalline silver salt showed 

 it to be silver caproate. 



Calculated for Found 



CfiHiiOoAg. I. ■ n. 



C =32-28 .. .. .. .. 32-49 32-10 



H = 4-93 .. .. .. .. 4-81 4-83 



Ag = 48-43 . . . . . . . . 49-00 48-66 



Caproic acid exists in Goupia tomentom {Celastraceae family), a timber- 

 tree used for boatbuilding in British Guiana (Dunstan and Henry, Trans. 

 Chem. Soc, 1898, p. 228), and which is closely allied to the well-known 

 garden shrub Enonymns. Its occurrence in other plants does not appear 

 to have been recorded. 



Victoria University College, Wellington. 



