BY JAMES M. PETIvIE. 437 



Tliose possessing- the latter constants for their acetates were distinguisheil by 

 Burian as sitosterols 



The phytosterol of Macrozamda spiralis possesses the following physical 

 constants : — 



molting- point, 13-2. C' C. 



oiitical rotation. — 34.5 

 acetate m.p., 120.0° C. 



It therefore falls in the tirst of the two groups. 



Separation of Hydrocarbons. 



The alcoholic mother-liquors, left after crystallising- out the phytosterols, were 

 united, and on further concentration a small quantity of cream-coloured fatty 

 solid was separated. This substance, when purified by digesting with animal 

 charcoal and se-^-eral crystallisations, possessed the properties of a saturated hydro- 

 carbon, and a constant melting point of 65° C. The weight was insufficient for 

 analysis, and was not further examined. The melting- point of the paraffin 

 triacontane, C30H82, as observed by Tutin, is 65° C. 



There now remained of the unsaponified substances only an uncrystallisable 

 dark yellow oil, weighing about 2 gms. 



Something of the nature of this oil was ascertained by treating a portion 

 with a small piece of sodium, when only a few micro-bubbles of gas were pro- 

 duced, even on heating to 75° C. The substance therefore was not an alcohol. 

 This point was confirmed by acetylation of the substance: when boiled with acetic 

 anhydride and the products separated, no gain in weight was observed. The sub- 

 stance therefore did not contain a hydroxyl group. 



The yellow oil was next distilled under a pressure of 30 mms. ; the first 

 drop collected at 180° C, and the greater part passed over at about 220°. The 

 distillate was a pale yellow fluid which solidified on cooling in microerystalline 

 needles. This clear distillate was quite solid at 16° C, and when carefully 

 warmed became a viscous fluid at 20° ; the melting point lay between 17° and 19° 

 C. By careful bromination of the substance in solutions of carbon bisulphide, 

 it was oljscrved that the bromine decolourised but almost no hydrobromic acid 

 was formed, — evidence that onl.y addition products were present. The absence 

 of substitution of bromine points to the absence of paraffins. 



The olefine hydrocarbon, oetodeeylene, CisHso. possesses the melting point 

 of 18° C. and boiling point 183° C., under a pressure of 30 mms. 



The Sapoiiified Oils. 



The strong alkaline solution obtained by hydrolising the petroleum spirit 

 extract of the resins, and after removal by ether of the unsaponified sul)stances, 

 was now treated for fatty acids by adding sulphuric acid and distillation in a 

 current of steam. 



The distillate was faintly acid, and contained a small amount of a greenish 

 solid, which was filtered off and examined. Tlie substance was recrystallised 

 from alcohol a number of times, and then consisted of 50 mgs. of nearly white 

 crystals in small globular masses. The melting point was 45° C. The neutral- 

 isation equivalent was determined in alcoholic solutions, the titration ended sharply 

 and required 20 ccs. of eentinormal alkali to neutralise 40 mgs., which is equiva- 

 lent to a neutralisation value of 200. 



Laurie acid, C12H24O a, requires 200 and possesses a melting point of 43.6° C. 



