280 Transactions. 



The anilide is a white solid, fairly soluble in both alcohol and acetic 

 acid, but more so in motor spirit, from which, however, it does not 

 crystallize well. 



The crystals from alcohol were large groups of fine needles, joined 

 together in tree-like formation. The yield of the anilide was 55 per cent, 

 of the theoretical. 



On one occasion a sample of anilide crystallized from ethyl alcohol 

 commenced to melt at 98-5°, but did not melt completely until a tempera- 

 ture of 118° was reached. After resolidification the sample melted sharply 

 at the lower temperature ; and the sample when crystallized from motor 

 spirit also melted sharply at the lower temperature. There can be little 

 doubt, therefore, that this anilide is dimorphous. The only other instance 

 T can find of an anilide exhibiting dimorphism is that of acetanilide.* 



Cerotone. — Two previous experimenters have worked upon the ketone 

 of cerotic acidf : Bruckner, by distilling the lead salt of cerotic acid, 

 obtained a ketone melting at 62° : Nafzger, by the distillation of cerotic 

 acid, obtained a ketone melting at 92°. 



By applying the recently patented method of T. H. Easterfield and 

 C. M. Taylor J — namely, the heating of fatty acids with metallic iron, 

 whereby stearic acid yields 80 per cent, of stearone — the ketone of cerotic 

 acid was easily obtained. The details of the preparation are as follows : 

 9 grams of cerotic acid were heated for four hours with 0-69 grams of iron 

 filings in an air bath slowly raised to a temperature of 340° to 350°. 

 Carbon dioxide was evolved when the temperature had reached 280°. 

 The temperature was now slowly raised until 340° was reached, and the 

 air bath was then regulated and maintained at this temperature for four 

 hours. 



The ketone thus obtained was purified by the following procedure : 

 1 on was removed by boiling the ketone with dilute hydrochloric acid. 

 Free fatty acid was then removed by boiling with dilute caustic soda. The 

 soap thus formed was soluble in warm water, and was thus easily separated 

 from the insoluble ketone. The ketone was now crystallized from motor 

 spirit, and a pure product was obtained, which had a melting-point 

 93° C. 



The melting-point was not changed by further crystallization from 

 motor spirit or acetic acid. A 55-per-cent. yield was obtained by this 

 method of preparation. 



The ketone thus obtained is a white solid, fairly soluble in motor spirit 

 and ethyl acetate, but sparingly soluble in acetic acid, from which it 

 crystallizes in feathery flocculent masses. It is almost insoluble in hot 

 alcohol, a saturated solution only becoming turbid on cooling. 



* Hans Meyer, " Analyse und Constitutionsermittelung Organ Verbindungen," 

 p. 47. 



t Beilstein, vol. 1. p. 1000. 

 X N.Z. patent 27607. 



