JOURNAL OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, IMPERIAL UNIVERS1TÏ", 

 TOKYO, JAPAN. 



VOL. XXV., ARTICLE 3. 



On the Constitution of the so-called 

 Elseomargaric Acid. 



By 



Tokuhei Kametaka, Rigakishi. 



I showed three years ago (Jour, of the College of Science, 

 Imperial University of Tokyo, Vol. XIX., Article 12 ; Jour. 

 Chem. Soc, 1903, 83, 1042-1045) that the composition of the 

 so-called eleeomargaric acid is neither C17H30O2, as given by its 

 discoverer Cloëz (Compt. rend., 1876, 83, 943.) nor CisHoqOo, as 

 asserted by L. Maquenne (Compt. rend., 1902, 135, 696-698) ; 

 but that it must be C18H32O2, isomeric with linolic acid. Since 

 then I have continued the work with the object of determining, 

 if possible, the constitution of the acid. Unfortunately, no definite 

 conclusion on this point has yet been reached ; but in view of 

 the fact that circumstances will prevent me from continuing the 

 work for some time, I propose to describe some of the results 

 thus far obtained. 



With regard to the constitution of el^eomargaric acid, Cloëz's 

 own words are as follows : — 



„L'acide élœomargarique est un homologue supérieur des 

 acides sorbique, linoléique et palmitolique ; il se place entre ce 

 dernier et l'acide stéarolique, obtenu artificiellement par l'action 

 de la potasse sur l'acide oléique brome." {loc. cit.). ^ 



L. Maquenne, who, as above stated, regards the composition 



