AXISE. 167 



water, insoluble in water, almost insolulole in alcohol, even on 

 heating ; more soluble in ether and volatile oils. 



Hydride of Anisijl CgHg O2 Syn., Anisylous acid, Anisic cddehdye, 

 Anisol* is prepared by gently heating oil of anise for about an 

 hour with three times its volume of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1-106 

 (14^ Beaume). The heavy oil which is thus formed is washed 

 with dilute potash and distilled. The distillate is agitated with 

 a warm solution of acid sulphite of sodium of sp. gr. 1'25 ; the 

 crystalline compound thus formed is collected on a funnel, 

 thoroughly washed with alcohol, dissolved in as little hot water 

 as possible, and the solution heated with excess of strong sodic- 

 carbonate, when the anisic aldehyde separates out and floats on 

 the surface. It is then purified by re-distillation. Thus obtained, 

 it is a yellowish liquid with a burning taste and an aromatic odour 

 resembling that of the Hawthorn, for which reason it is known 

 commercially as " Aubepine." 



Its specific gravity has been recorded as 1"09 at 20° C, and its 

 boiling point 253^-255° C, but it is possible that the earliest 

 observations were not determined from absolutely pure or fresh 

 specimens of this rather unstable preparation. Messrs. Schimmel 

 & Co. state that the pure anisic aldehyde manufactured by them 

 boils at 245°-246° C, and has a sp. gr. of 1126 at 1^5 Cf 



It is almost insoluble in water but is soluble in all proportions 

 in alcohol and ether. It possesses the property peculiar to 

 aldehydesof forming crystalline compounds with the acid sulphites 

 of the alkali-metals, ij. 



At an ordinary temperature anisic aldehyde is liquid, but in a 

 freezing mixture it congeals to a solid mass of crystals, melting at 

 — 4° C. By cooling it carefully to — 10° C. it remains liquid, 

 but congeals immediately upon the introduction of the slightest 

 trace of the crystalline body, under an advance of temperature to 

 — 4° C. In contact with air, anisic aldehyde easily oxidises to 

 anisic acid, it should therefore be kept in well stoppered bottles, 

 filled as full as possible. It is useful in the manufacture of soap, 

 and extracts and combines particularly well with oils of orange, 

 petitgrain, or oils of kindred odour. 



* Cahours Ann. Chini. Phys. [3], xiv., p. 484; xxiii., p. 354. 



t Bericht, April, 1893. 



X Ann. Chem. Pharra., Ixxxv., p. 268. 



