(90) 
Boiled with dilute sulphuric acid of, say, 5 percent strength, 
nitramino-ethanol yields quantitatively Ns O according to the equation: 
CH,.NH NO, CH, OH 
CH». OH CH, OH 
Presumably there is also formed some glycol, but at all events 
no ethylene, no ethylene oxide or aldehyde; but after removal of 
the sulphuric acid the solution gives with copper sulphate and 
potassium hydroxide a dark blue liquid like the polyhydric alcohols. 
We are now engaged in preparing the nearest homologue and 
will then try to state the other properties of the nitramino-alcohols. 
Nitramino-ethanol is perhaps formed from the nitroderivative of 
the internal ester of oxethylaminoformie acid by another process 
which is not so simple but not less important on account of the 
intermediate products. If dry NH3 is passed through a cold 1 pCt. 
solution in benzene a white precipitate is formed which to judge 
from its behaviour, is a NH; compound of nitro-ureo-ethanol 
(oxethylnitro-urea). This compound when boiled with absolute 
alcohol, in which it is but little soluble, parts with its NH3, which 
as we know from experience happens in the case of all compounds 
of nitramines with NH3, and on evaporating the solution nitro-ureo- 
ethanol is obtained which is very soluble in water and alcohol and 
very slightly so in benzene and chloroform. From these solutions 
it crystallises in beautiful thin glossy plates which melt at 86°. 
The aqueous solution gives like urea itself immediately a white 
precipitate with mercuric nitrate but not with mercuric chloride or 
silver nitrate unless an alkali is added. 
Nitro-ureo-ethanol which, as has been stated above, I had tried 
in vain to obtain from ureo-ethanol, yields on boiling with barium 
hydroxide NH; and CO ,. Perhaps nitramino-ethanol is formed 
simultaneously according to the equation: 
CH. WN; CH,. NH. NO, 
| OLE 0 Zl 4. NH; + CO, 
| | | 
CH,. OH NH, CH». OH 
unless nitrous acid is formed first from the nitro-urea derivative as 
is the case with nitrohydantoine, but no certainty exists on this 
point. 
