BALSAM PERU. 253 
cinnamate), C,,H,,0,, as may be proved by the fact of its conversion 
into benzyl alcohol, C;H,,0,, and cinnamic acid by the action of 
caustic alkalies. It amounts to about 60 per cent. of the balsam. 
Cinnamein can also be separated from the balsam by distillation, 
but with more difficulty, owing to its high boiling-point, about 
305° C. Cinnamein is a thick liquid, miscible in alcohol and 
ether, and not congealing at —12° C. By boiling it suffers slight 
decomposition. By exposure to the air it slowly acquires an acid 
reaction ; submitted to the prolonged action of potash, especially 
in alcoholic solution, potassium cinnamate crystallizes out, and the 
oily liquid remaining consists of a mixture of benzyl alcohol and 
toluene called Peruvin,.C;H,O (so named by Frémy). Benzyl 
cinnamate can be prepared artificially by heatmg sodium cinnamate 
with benzyl chloride, and so obtained it forms crystals which 
melt at 39° C. and boil between 225° and 235°, so differing con- 
siderably from cimnamein; in fact it has been thought that cin- 
namein contains, besides benzyl-cinnamate, benzyl-benzoate, cin- 
namyl-cinnamate, and some free benzyl-aleohol*. Both benzyl- 
benzoate and benzyl-cinnamate also occur in Tolu balsam, and 
benzyl-alcoho] is found in liquid storax+ and in oil of cherry- 
laurel {. Cinnamyl-cinnamate is also called cinnyl-cinnamate, and 
is identical with styracin C;,H,,0, or meta-cinnamein C,,H,,O, , 
which is contaimed in liquid storax, and which, although crystal- 
lizing in long rectangular prisms which melt at 38°C., frequently 
solidifies in a form which is not crystalline, or only crystallizes 
after remaining for a considerable time im a liquid, oily state. 
By treatment with a concentrated solution of potash, styracin 
is decomposed into a cinnamate of potash and Styrone, CyH,O §, 
having an odour of hyacinths. 
The resin separated from the balsam as above mentioned by 
carbon disulphide consists of an amorphous, black, brittle mass 
which does not possess the characteristic odour of the balsam. 
It is soluble in caustic alkalies and in alcohol. It can be purified 
from its alcoholic solution by charcoal. It reddens litmus and 
yields an abundant precipitate on the addition of an alcoholic 
* Ann. Chem. Pharm. clii. p. 151. 
t Ibid. clxiv. p. 289, 
¢ Pharm. Journ. [3] y. p. 761. 
§ See p. 247. 
