( 203 ) 



distilled, w Inch sepaialod iiilo I wo la vors one ol' wliicli cojisisled of 

 water whilst the other had a hitler peppcrinint-like odour. From 110° 

 the temperature rapidly rose to KKP and from 160 — 180^ a consi- 

 derable fraction j)assed over. What distilled above 180^ \^"as maiidy 

 nnclianged phenol, . which w\as again subjected to treatment with 

 liydrogen. To remov^e any phenol, tiie fractioji 160 — 180° was washed 

 a few times with dilute soda-lye, tlie alkaline washings were shaken 

 with ether to reco^'er any dissolved cyclohexanol, the ether was 

 evaporated and the residue united with the main lirpiid. After a few 

 more distillations a liquid was obtained, perfectly clear and of a 

 thick consistency, boiling at 160 — 161°, the b.p. of cych)hexanol 

 being recorded as 160°. 3. A combustion gave the following result. 

 0.1740 grm. gave 0.4610 grm. CO., and 0.2017grm. H.,0; found : 



C72.2 1112.8 

 calculated for C«H,,0 : C 72.0 H 12.0 



By oxidation with IjEckmann's chromic acid mixture ('J mol. K.,Cr.,()4 

 -|- 2\^_j mol H.,vS()^ in 300 grms. of water) of which 135 grams were 

 nsed for 10 grams of hexanol and operating at a low tempei'ature, 

 hexanol gives a fair yield of ketohexamethylene. 



Mr. VAN DEii Laan has not determined the exact amount of cyclo- 

 hexanol obtainable from phenol but this is certain that the yield is 

 quite satisfactory. If four tubes with nickelpowder are heated at the 

 same time 1 kilo of hexanol may be easily prepared ^^ itliin 7 or 

 10 days. 



As a result of this investigation some substances which were only 

 accessible Avitli the greatest difticultly, have now become easy of 

 preparation. First of all cyclohexanol and ketohexamethylene. The 

 latter may be nearly quantitatively oxidised to adipic acid and as 

 its calcium salt gives a fair yield of ketopentamethylene when sub- 

 mitted to drA' distillation, these two latter substances are no longer 

 to l)e regarded as chemical cnriosities. 



Groningen, Lab. Univs. September 1903. 



Vegetable Physiology. — " Investigntiom- of somi' .ranthine (Icrii-a- 

 tives in connection inith the internal rniitatiou of plants" . liy 

 Dr. Th. WeF;Veks and Mrs. C. J. Weevers —de ( xkaafe. (Com- 

 mnnicated by Prof. C. A. Lobry de Bruin). 



The investigations of Clautriau ^) and of SuzuKr-*) as to the function 

 of catfcijie have shown that this substance must probably be regarded 

 as a decomposition ("Abhau") [)roduct of albumenoids. 



1) G. Clautriau. Nature ot Signification des Alcaloides végétaux, Bruxelles 1900. 



2) Suzuki. Bull. Coll. Agric. Tokyo Imp. Univ. Vol. 4. 1901. pag. 289. 



14 

 Proceedings Royal Acad. Amsterdam. Vol. VI. 



