240 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
also a product of the action of sodium ethylate on a mixture of 
acetone and ethyl benzoate*; but it is best prepared by covering 
sodium ethylate, free from alcohol, with an excess of acetic ether, 
and gradually adding the calculated quantity of acetophenone, the 
liquid being cooled with ice. The liquid product solidifies after 
a short time to a thick mass of light yellow crystals of sodium 
benzoylacetone. The mass is triturated with ether and filtered, 
the residue being dissolved in water and decomposed with acetic 
acid, which precipitates the benzoylacetone in the form of small 
prisms}. This substance melts at 60°-61°, boils almost without 
decomposition at 260°-262°, and is readily volatile with steam. It 
has a very pleasant penetrating odour, is only slightly soluble in 
cold, more readily in hot water, and is readily soluble in alcohol 
and caus tic-soda solution. It gives an intense claret-red colora- 
tion with ferric chloride, and is decomposed by boiling with 
alkalies into acetic acid and acetophenone. 
Amylbenzene has been obtained by treating a solution of amyl 
bromide and bromobenzene in benzene with sodium {. A better 
yield is obtained when ether is used as a diluent instead of ben- 
zene. It is also formed by the action of amyl chloride on a 
mixture of benzene and aluminium chloride §. It is a pleasant 
smelling liquid, boils at 193°, and has a sp. gr. of 0°859 at 12°. 
Pentylb enzene, CgH;C;Hy, has been obtamed by the action of 
sodium on a mixture of benzyl bromide and butyl bromide. It 
isa very pleasant smelling liquid, which boils at 200°-5-201°-5, and 
has a sp. gr. of 0°8602 at 22°||. 
Butylbenzene is formed by the action of sodium on a mixture of 
propyl! bromide and benzyl bromide, or of butyl bromide on bromo- 
benzene. It is a liquid of a very pleasant odour, boils at 180°, 
and has a sp. gr.fof 0°875 at 0° and of 0°8622 at 16° 4. 
Isobutylbenzene is obtained by treating a mixture of bromoben- 
zene and isobutyl bromide or isobutyl iodide, or of benzyl chloride 
and isopropyl! iodide with sodium**. It is also formed by heating 
* Ber. Deutsch. chem. Ges. xx. p. 655. 
+ Ibid. xx. p. 2078. 
¢ Ann. Chem. Pharm. cxxix. p. 369; exxxi. p. 515; and exli. p. 160. 
§ Ann. Chim. Phys. [6] i. p. 454. 
|| Ann. Chem. Pharm. cexviii. p. 883. 
q| Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges. ix. p. 260, and x. p. 296. 
** Tbid. iii. p. 779 ix. p. 1606; and viii. p. 500. 
