62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND. 
in the leaf oil of Atherosperma moschatum (Victorian 
sassafras). Its occurrence in the volatile oils of the 
Lauracex is common, notably in those of the Cinnamomums. 
The bark oil of C. Olivieri (Brisbane sassafras) contains 
25 per cent.* 
The lower fraction (4 ce.) was not sufficient in amount 
for identification of the optically active constituent, pro- 
bably a terpene the general charzeteristics of which 
indicated it to be levo-rotatory pinene. 
THE OIL OF THE LEAF. 
The yield from the air-dried leaves was approximately 
3 per cent. The essential oil was light greenish yellow in 
colour, and possessed an odour faintly resembling cinnamon. 
Its constants were—al2 ‘9181; [a]p) +33°7; [n]po, 1489. 
Ester value 20; acetyl value 50. 
Sodium bisulphite solution extracted 2-3 per cent. of a 
body which was apparently not cimuamic aldehyde; and 
caustic potash solution, -5 per cent. of a phenol giving a 
bluish green colour with ferri¢ chloride. 
On fractionally distilling the amount of oil available 
(45 ec.) under 30 mm. pressure it was resolved into two 
principal fractions, viz.:—(1) Boiling at 70-80° C., and 
(2) at 145-154° C. 
The lower fraction possessed [n], 1-478 and a + 54-2 
in a l-dem. tube. Its odour and general characteristics 
indicated the presence of limonene, though the amount of 
the fraction was insufficient to permit of purification and 
identification. 
The behaviour on fractionation would show that the 
principal constituents of the leaf oil are a _ terpene 
(d-limonene ?) or terpenes, and a body, probably a 
sesquiterpene, comprising the bulk of the last fraction, 
[n]p 1-501, amounting to about 50 per cent. of the whele oil. 
it *s hoped to further clucidate the compositior of the 
leaf oil of D. aromatica when a larger guantity of material 
is available. 
*M. E. Scott, J.C.S. 101 (1912), 1612. 
*“G. W. Hargreaves, J.C.S. 109 (1916), 751. 
