JACKSON AND GAZZOLO. — NITRO COMPOUNDS. 273 



Properties of the Addition Product of Trinitranisol and Sodic Malonic 

 Ester, C 6 H 2 (N0 2 ) 8 OCH 3 [CHNa(COOC 2 H 5 ) 2 ] 3 . 



This substance is an amorphous powder with a deep maroon color. 

 We have not succeeded in crystallizing it. It is one of the most stable 

 bodies of its class, as when exposed to the air it usually remains unaltered 

 for nearly five days ; at the end of this time it begins to grow moist, then 

 turns black, and is finally converted into a black powder with a some- 

 what tarry consistency. When heated, it explodes with a slight puff, but 

 with little or no noise; it is, however, apparently stable at as high a 

 temperature as 140°. It dissolves completely in water, forming a clear 

 cherry red solution ; soluble, although more slowly, in ethyl alcohol ; 

 completely and quickly soluble in methyl alcohol, but this solution seems 

 to be attended by some decomposition, as a fadiug of the color was ob 

 served ; soluble in acetone ; insoluble in ether, benzol, chloroform, car 

 bonic disulphide, or ligroin. A few drops of hydrochloric acid added to 

 its aqueous solution changes the red color to yellow instantly, and causes 

 a precipitate which, on filtration, solution iu alcohol, and evaporation of 

 the solvent, proves to be a reddish oil containing malonic ester, to judge 

 from the smell, and trinitranisol, since this substance crystallizes out on 

 standing. 



As this substance was more stable than most others of its class, we 

 tried the action of ethyliodide upon it in the hope of replacing the atoms 

 of sodium with ethyl. For this purpose 0.5 gram of the addition prod- 

 uct was heated in a sealed tube with ethyl iodide, at first to 100°, but, 

 as this produced no apparent effect, later to 140° for an hour and a half, 

 and then it was kept at 100° for two days. The contents of the tube 

 were treated with benzol, after the ethyl iodide had evaporated, which 

 gave a red solution and a black residue; the residue was extracted with 

 water, and the extract gave no test for an iodide. It is obvious, there- 

 fore, that the ethyl iodide had not acted at all, but that the unmanage- 

 able black product was produced by the decomposition of the addition 

 compouud. 



Action of Sodic Malonic Ester with Trinitrobenzol. 



The sodic malonic ester was prepared with sodium alone, benzol was 

 used as the solvent, and the proportions were three molecules of the 

 ester to one of the trinitrobenzol. As soon as the solutions were mixed, 

 a deep scarlet lumpy precipitate was formed ; it was found best, there- 

 fore, to add the solution of the sodic malonic ester in small portions at a 

 vol. xxxv. — 18 



