251 



iodine, and bromine. By treatment with sulphide of hydrogen it 

 and its carbonate are converted into hyposulphite of some sort, 

 wliich may be crystallized from alcohol. It gives the same reaction 

 with bichromate of potass and sulphuric acid as strychnine. 



When iodide of ethylostrychnine is distilled with soda-lime, anon- 

 basic oil, and a base insoluble in water, are obtained, but material 

 was wanting to prove whether the latter is leucoline or ethyloleuco- 

 line. The solution of the hydrate itself evolves the odour of a vola- 

 tile base on ebullition. 



Action of Iodide of Ethyl on Ethylostrychnine. 



When a solution of the hydrate in absolute alcohol is heated with 

 iodide of ethyl in a sealed tube, iodide of ethylostrychnine is repro- 

 duced, accompanied by some secondary product, which appears to 

 modify its characters to some degree. 



Action of Chloride of Amyl on Strychnine. 



Chloride of Amylostrychnine. — By protracted boiling of the al- 

 kaloid with absolute alcohol and chloride of amyl in a sealed tube 

 it was completely changed. The new salt was obtained by distilling 

 off the excess of spirit and reagent as a crystalline mass,^ which was 

 completely and readily soluble in warm water. In the crystals from 

 water, the salt was found to have the composition expressed in the 

 formula, — 



^62 Has N, 0, CI, HO + 7 aq. 



At a temperature of 212° Fahr, the 7 aq. are expelled, and the 

 dried compound is — 



C,, H33 N, O, CI, HO. 



Its characters are generally analogous to the corresponding salt of 

 the ethyl base. It is of greater solubility in water and in spirit. Its 

 decomposition by heat is attended by the final production of fumes 

 of a most disgusting odour. 



In contact with ammonia, it appears to undergo some decomposi- 

 tion ; in the cold, long contact produces a crystalline substance, hav- 

 ing the qualitative characters of strychnine ; the reproduction of this 

 alkaloid, and the formation of amylamine, appears possible under 

 the circumstances, as in the equation, 



C„ H3, Nj O, CI -t- NH3 = C,2 H^, Nj O, + C,„ H„ N. HCl ; 



