228 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



leaving the original substance, as shown by the melting point. 0.2 gram 

 of the substance were dissolved in benzol, and an excess of aniline added ; 

 after standing for twenty-four hours the benzol and aniline were re- 

 moved, when the unaltered substance was obtained, as shown by the 

 melting point. Phenylhydrazine gave a similar negative result. No 

 action could be observed when the substance was treated with an alka- 

 line solution of potassic permanganate, or was boiled with sulphuric acid 

 of specific gravity 1.44 or 1.6, or heated to 150° in a sealed tube 

 with hydrochloric acid. If it was heated to 250° with hydrochloric acid, 

 the compound was completely destroyed, and complete destruction also 

 ensued when it was treated with fuming nitric acid, or a solution of 

 chromic anhydride, or when it was fused with potassic hydrate. In con- 

 tinuing this work next year renewed attempts will be made to obtain 

 decomposition products of the substance, and efforts will also be made to 

 throw light on its constitution by preparing allied compounds. 



It should also be mentioned that acetacetic ester converts tetrabrom- 

 orthoquinone into tetrabrompyrocatechine, which then forms hexabrom- 

 orthoquinopyrocatechine ether with unaltered tetrabromorthoquinone. 

 Chloral showed no action with tetrabromorthoquinone even at 100°. 

 The study of the little-known and very reactive tetrabromorthoquinone 

 will be continued in various directions in this Laboratory. 



