431 



will not be very easy to decide (his poiiil. In former researclies it 

 lias lieea lacill^y muierstood llial in the transformation of a N-deri- 

 vative of pyrrole in a C-derivative, it is always the «t-componnd 

 that is formed. In consequence of onr observations the validity of 

 these conclusion has become doubif'iil. 



We shall now give a short description of onr experiments on 

 these reactions. 



In the first place we have determined the most favourable 

 temperature for the transformation of N(«-pyridyl) pyrrole into 

 the C(f(-pyridyl) pyrroles, as in Pictet's papers the reaction tempe- 

 rature is only vaguely indicated as "heated to redness" or "faintly 

 red-hol". The best procedure appeared to be as follows: 



25 gr. of N(«-pyridyl)|)yrrole are distilled through a glass tube 

 filled will) pieces of pumice, which is heated at 670° — 690^ C. in 

 an electrical oven. Part of the substance is decomposed, which 

 shows itself in the formation of dense white vapoui's. The distillate 

 consists of a black liquid, which soon solidifies at room temperature. 

 This reaction product was distilled with steam, in which a while 

 crystalline substance passed o\er, which was filtered off. This 

 substance appeared to be vei'y sparingly soluble in cold water. The 

 crude product melted at 84°; after recrystallisation from a mixture 

 of benzene and ligroine the melting-point is 90°. The yield of this 

 substance was about 12 gr. The aqueous distillate contained 

 only very little unchanged N('(-pyridyl) pyrrole. A second substance 

 remained behiiul in the distillation flask, which is not volatile with 

 water-vapour, and which after recrystallisation from hot water melts 

 at 132—132.5°. 



Properties of the pyrridyl- pyrrole mehing at 90°. 



This substance is obtained from benzene, to which some ligroine 

 has been added, in hard, very shiny, colourless octohedrical crystals. 

 We found 19,41 7o for the nitrogen content; 19,44°/. was calculated 

 for C,H,N.. 



This substance is readily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform 

 acetone and benzene; less easily in hot water and ligroine, very 

 little in petroleum ether. These solutions exhibit a blue fluorescence, 

 except the aqueous and alcoholic solution. A solution of /i-pyridyl 

 «-pyrrole also shows fluorescence according to Pictet and Crêpiedx. 



Our pyrrole derivative does not give a colour reaction with a 

 pine-chip tnoistened with hydrochloric acid ; with a hydrochloric acid 



