526 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1682. 



mellitic acid and some of its derivatives, such as the hydromellitic, 

 pyro-mellitic, and hydro-pyro- mellitic acids. 



The muddy deposit contained a black substance soluble in liot water 

 and alkalies, but insoluble in most mineral acids and in the majority of 

 organic solvents. The authors named this body mellogen, since, on 

 oxidation, it yields acids of the benzo-carbonic series. It has the com- 

 position O14H2O4. {Comptes Eendus, May 15, 18S2.) 



Acetoxims. — By the action of acetone on hydroxylamin, Alois Janny 

 has obtained the first member of a new series of bodies, for which series 

 he proposes the name of acetoxims. This name is applied to bodies 

 containing the group =CNOH united on two sides to carbon. When 

 only one bond of the carbon group is united to carbon and the other 

 to hydrogen, derivatives of aldehyde are formed for which the name 

 aldoxims is suggested. 



The simplest bodj'^ of the acetoxims is dimethylacetoxim, having the 

 formula CH3 — C(NHO) — CH3. This is obtained by mixing an aqueous 

 solution of hydroxylamine with acetone and extracting ether, which 

 leaves, on evaporation, brilliant white, hard, volatile, prismatic crys- 

 tals. It is soluble in water, alcohol, ether, &c., and melts at 59° to 60° 

 C, distilling without decomposition at 1340.8 C. It is a neutral sub- 

 stance, and has a slight odor, resembling chloral. 



The author has also prepared and studied ethyl-methylacetoxim, 

 methylpseudobutylacetoxim, and some analogous phenyl derivatives. 

 (Berichte d. cliem. Ges., xv, pp. 1324 and 2778.) 



Biphenylaminaeroleine has been prepared by Prof. Albert E. Leeds by 

 heating an alcoholic solution of diphenylamine with an excess of acro- 

 leine. After a few hours' digestion a heavy red precipitate forms, soluble 

 in boiling alcohol, together with a sticky insoluble mass. The latter is 

 treated with alcohol and water until it becomes pulverulent and capa- 

 ble of being powdered in a mortar. This amorphous substance proves 

 to be diphenylaminacroleine (Ci2HioN)2 C3H4. It does not fuse nor 

 sublime, but is decomposed, on heating, into a carbonaceous mass. It 

 is insoluble in ether, slightly soluble in alcohol and acetic acid, and solu- 

 ble in chloroform, yielding a dark red liquid. It could not be obtained 

 in crystals. Bromine converts it into a bromocompound, also amor- 

 l^hous, and not further examined. 



Homoquinine, a new Alkaloid. — Howard and Hodgkin have obtained 

 a new alkaloid from cinchona bark, for which they propose the name 

 homoquinine. Its properties are similar to those of quinine, having the 

 same specific rotary power, and nearly the same composition, but it 

 crystallizes from ether more readily, and differs in the solubility of its 

 salts. One part of the suli^hate of homoquinine requires more than 100 

 of water for solution. Alcohol of 90 per cent, dissolves 7.64 parts of 

 the alkaloid, a 5 per cent, solution of which shows a rotation of — 168"^. 

 {J. Chem. Soc, xli, p. 66.) 



