581 



as was found in the experiment with the pure substance, we can 

 calculate that the following quantities of citroneHal were esteritied : 

 40.6, 53.3 and 67.2. 



It further folU)ws tlial no complete e.sterification is possible without 

 the use of sodium acetate. Even by increasing the dui-ation of 

 heating to 10 hours only 93.3 "/o ^1 *^''6 geraniol-citronellal niixlnie 

 (1 c.c. to 4 c.c.) was esterified 



Finallj' some estimations were made in which for eveiy 2 c.c. 

 of citronellal 0.2 grin, ot sodium acetate (previously melted) was 

 employed. 



Hence the presence of sodium acetate increased the quantity of 

 acetylated citi-oneiial in those mixtures which contained 53 — 95 "/« 

 of anhydride, and did not affect the othei-s. The rise of tempe- 

 rature due to the addition of the sodium acetate is not the cause 

 of the improved acetylation in the former mixtures, since heating 

 the mixtuie in a sealed tube without sodium acetate to the same 

 tenq)eiature (about 149°) did not result in better esteritication. The 

 curve shows, however, that when sodium acetate is used, the presence 

 of acetic acid is harmful, whereas, in the absence of sodium acetate, 

 the acid has a favourable effect up to a certain concentration, it 

 follows therefore that in using sodium acetate we induce a different 

 i-eaction from that which occurs in the absence of this salt. 



HriitPMZorg, 27 May 1918. 



38* 



