( 465 ) 
When we treat this substance with alcoholic ammonia two OCH,’s 
are readily replaced by NH, and we obtain the same dinitro- 
diamidoanisol as that obtained from trinitrohydroquinonedimethy ether. 
Trinitroveratrol (LI) however behaves quite differently from Na OCH, 
If to the methyl-aleoholie solution is added sodium methoxide a 
purple-red coloration is obtained, which only disappears after heating for 
a few minutes on the waterbath, after which the liquid turns yellow. 
On cooling, fine yellow crystals are deposited (m.p. 152°) which are 
not affected by alcoholic ammonia or by potassium hydroxide. 
The motherliquor contains besides Na NO, a small quantity of a 
substance which is perhaps identical with that from trinitrohydro- 
quinonedimethylether. 
Fine crystalline compounds are also obtained by the action of 
potassium cyanide on trinitroveratrol in alcoholic or methyl-alcoholic 
solutions; in either case two different substances are produced. 
It is probable that trinitroveratrol (in common with other nitro- 
compounds) first forms an additive product with Na OCH, or KCN’), 
which then suffers decomposition and causes the formation of the 
said products. 
The fact that the course of the reaction is a somewhat unusual 
one is most likely to be attributed to the presence of three adjacent 
nitro-groups in the benzenecore. | hope a further study will throw 
some more light on the subject. 
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 1904. 
Chemistry. — “On W. MaroKwarp’s asymmetric synthesis of optically 
active valerie acid.” By Dr. S. TisMstra Bz. (Communicated 
by Prof. BAkHuis RoozeBoom). 
Some time ago, MarckwaLp’) prepared active valeric acid in a 
manner which according to his opinion entitled him to look upon 
this synthesis as the first purely asymmetric one. Shortly afterwards 
this opinion was challenged in an article from Messrs. Conen and 
Parrerson *), who denied that the synthesis could be an asymmetric 
one as being opposed to the theory of electrolytic dissociation. After- 
1) Lorine Jackson. Amer. Chem. Journ. 29, 89, (1903). 
_Losry pe Bruyn. Rec. 23. 47. 
2) Ber. 37, 349. 
5) Ber. 37, 1012. 
Proceedings Royal Acad. Amsterdam. Vol. VII. 
