4 ART. .",. — T. KAMETAKA I ON THE CONSTITUTION 



The oxidation process was repeated, not, however, at low 

 temperatures as before, but at an ordinary temperature (about 12°). 

 In this case, azelaic acid (m. p. 105°) was formed, besides 

 dihydroxystearic acid, but again no tartaric acid was obtained. 



As the formation of dihydroxystearic acid Ci8H34(OH)202 by 

 the oxidising action of potassium permanganate upon elseomar- 

 garic acid CigHooOo, i.e. by a mere addition of 2H2O, appeared 

 somewhat strange, I next tried Hazura's method of oxidation, 

 the elseomargaric acid used having been carefully recrystallised 

 from alcohol and made free from accompanying oleic acid. Here 

 again dihydroxystearic acid was obtained, besides azelaic acid 

 and an unknown substance of a white crystalline nature, m. p. 

 123-125°, soluble in water and alcohol, but insoluble in ether. 

 Sativic acid was not formed. This was probably due to the 

 high temperature employed and the decomposition of sativic acid 

 once formed into azelaic acid. Lastly, elseomargaric acid was 

 oxidised by Maquenne's method (Bull. soc. chim., 1899, 3^ 

 série, 21, 1061) on a water-bath ; a large quantity of azelaic acid 

 was obtained, but no n-valerianic acid could be detected in the 

 mother liquor. 



Action of concentrated sulphuric acid upon 

 elœomargaric acid. 



Following the method, by which the constitutions of be- 

 henolic and stearolic acids were determined (J. Baruch, Ber., 

 1893, 26, 839 ; 1894, 27, 172), elteomargaric acid was mixed with 

 5, times its weight of pure cone, sulphuric acid; heat was evolved 

 and the smell of sulphur dioxide perceived, the crystals of elœo- 

 margaric acid melting into a dark liquid. After standing for 



