ACETO ACETIC ESTER 87 



in which the methyl groups occupy the 2 and 6 places and the carboxyl 

 groups have the 3 and 5 places. It melts at 80 Alkalis decompose 

 it into carbon dioxid and acetoacetic ester which is further decomposed 

 to its usual decomposition products. 



JAflES, J. WM., 1887, 



J. Chem. Soc. 51, 287-290 ; Ann. Chem. 240, 61-66. 



Formation of Cyan=acetoacetic Ester. 



By treating monochloracetoacetic ester with potassium cyanid, 

 potassium cyanacetoacetic ester was formed to which was given 

 the formula CH, (CN)C0CHKC02 C^ H5 . Treating this with an 

 acid, produced cyanacetoacetic ester, a liquid which cannot be dis- 

 tilled under ordinary pressure. By treating dichloracetoacetic ester, 

 called by the author CHCU COCH2 CO^ C2 H5 , with potassium cyanid 

 no corresponding compound was formed but potassium dichloracetate, 

 CHCI3 CO2 K, was the chief product. 



niCHAEL, A., 1887. 



Am. Chem. J. 9» 112-124; J. prakt. Chem. 143, 349-357; J. Chem. 



Soc. 52, 672 ; Ber. 20, 258 (C) and 504 (C) ; Jsb. Chem. 



1887, 1542 ; Bull. Soc. chim. 48, 520. 



Addition of Sodacetoacetic Ester and Sodomalonic Ester to the 



Esters of Unsaturated Acids, 



When sodacetoacetic ester is treated with cinnamic ester they unite 

 directly and then split off sodium ethoxid forming a compound 

 CH3 



CO C6H5 



I I 



CH-CH 



I i 



CO-CH 



CO2C2H5 

 which is very unstable decomposing at 100 It acts as a mono-basic 

 acid. Acetoacetic ester and citraconic ester, C5 H4 (C2 115)2 O4, combine 

 directly to form Ci5H24 07an unstable oil boiling at 173°-! 74° at 

 26 m. m. pressure. The author makes the point that these substances 

 are addition products. 



