1920] Proceedings of the Academy op Science 17 



Some Investigations on the Compounds Isolated from the Polypores. 

 Joseph T. Maddox and Raymond Binford. 



There has been little or no investigation done on the chemical 

 analysis and isolation of the various compounds present and obtainable 

 from any Polyporus. An investigation was made this past winter 

 towards isolating under various conditions as many compounds as 

 possible. Some eleven different compounds were obtained, which, 

 owing to the lack of proper laboratory equipment, are as yet uniden- 

 tified. This paper is only intended to give an account of the methods 

 used and a study of the physical properties of each compound isolated. 



Netv Ethers. A. S. Wheeler and S. C. Smith. 



A new group of ethers has been derived from chloral. The addition 

 product obtained by the action of one mole of chloral upon one mole 

 of m-nitroaniline is boiled with an alcohol. A molecule of water splits 

 off and an ether of strong crystallizing power is obtained. These 

 ethers are sensitive to acids but stable towards alkalies. The reaction 

 with p-nitroaniline is best carried out by first making the chloral alco- 

 holate and then treating this with the amine. The series of ethers 

 under preparation include the three nitroanilines and methyl, ethyl, 

 n-propyl, n-butyl and isoamjd alcohols. 



p-Cyinenc, A New Solvent. A. S. Wheeler. 



p-Cymene is now produced on a much larger scale than formerly 

 since it is so easily obtained from spruce turpentine. It becomes, 

 therefore, a useful solvent for high temperatures, its boiling point 

 being 176.5°. It is a colorless hydrocarbon of the benzene series and 

 is to be preferred where possible to such colored solvents as aniline and 

 nitrobenzene and ill-smelling ones as pyridin. The solubility of a num- 

 ber of compounds of a wide range of types has been determined. 



A Color Reaction for p-Cymene. A. S. Wheeler. 



In p-cymene obtained from spruce turpentine are one or more 

 impurities which give a color reaction with p-anisidine. The solid 

 p-anisidine may be used or a solution in pure cymene. In samples 

 where the cymene is still yellowish the coloration is very pronounced 

 and is really not needed. The immediate coloration is pale yellow, 

 deep yellow, brown or red depending on the degree of impurity. 



