( 327 ) 



On boiling the dibromide with zinc dust and alcohol tlie bromine 

 is eliminated and tlie unsaturated ketone can then be readily separated 

 by distillation in a current of steam. After purification via the semi- 

 carbazone it is obtained as a colourless liquid which melts at — 7°^) 

 and boils at 235° SG^^.^ 0,848. MR = 52,47 (calculated for 

 C,„H,„Op,52,51). 



The alcohols from tlie trawas oil obtained in the treatment with 

 semicarbazide may be isolated in a similar manner. In this case a 

 solution of bromine in carbon tetrachloride may be used. 



The saturated alcohol proved to be methyl-n.-nonylcarbinol. It has 

 a left handed rotation ') a = - 5°.40' (/ = 1 dM.). On oxidation with 

 chromic acid in sulphuric acid solution methyl-n.-nonylketone is 

 formed which was identitied by the semicarbazone melting at 124°. 



The unsaturated alcohol also has a left handed rotation («=- 5° 10° 

 /= 1 dM.). The boiling point was situated at 233° ; Sp.Grj, = 0,835. 

 On oxidation with chromic and sulphuric acids a ketone was obtained 

 the semicarbazone of which melted at 113° whereas by oxidation 

 with potassium permauganate 2-ketodecanic acid was formed. This 

 alcohol therefore, consists of undecene (1) ol flO). 



The results of this research will be communicated more fully 

 elsewhere. 



Utrecht, Univ. Org. Chem. Lab. 



Botany. — "Jnvestk/,(tio7i of the transmission of light stimuli in the 

 seedlings of Avena'. By P. C. vaiN der Wolk. (Communi- 

 cated by Prof. F. A. F. C. Went.) 



iGommunicated in the meeting of September 30, 1911). 



§ 1. 



The investigations, which are recorded in this preliminary com- 

 munication were carried on in the Botanical Laboratory at Utrecht, 

 in a phototropic room which, in order to eliminate the harmful 

 constituenis of the air, is isolated from the laboratory building and 

 forms part of the group of hothouses in the Botanic Garden. Accord- 

 ingly these experiments have in general been carried out at higher 



1) This melting point must be given with some reservation as the unsaturated 

 ketone may possibly contain traces of the saturated compound formed during the 

 action of the zinc dust. These cannot affect to any extent the other properties. 



2; Power and Lees (Soc. 81, 1593 [1902]) found in Algerian essential oil of 

 Rue an active methyl, n. nonylcarbinol x — — PIS' {I = 0.25 dm.). 



