300 M. Cahours on Acetosalicyle, 



rience an analogous decomposition under the influence of fused 

 potash. By the action of chloride of acetyle on hydride of ben- 

 zoyle, Bertagnini* obtained cinnamic acid. Expecting to obtain 

 coumaric acid by a similar decomposition, Cahours t tried the 

 action of chloride of acetyle on hydride of salicyle, 



C14 ^SQij^QA H3 09C1 = C'8 IP 0« + HCl. 

 Hydride of Chloride of Coumaric 

 salicyle. acetyle. acid. 



When brought together, these substances act very energetically, 

 hydrochloric acid is evolved, and there is obtained a beautifully 

 crystallized substance, which is, however, not coumaric acid, for 

 it is perfectly neutral. It does not dissolve in dilute potash or 

 ammonia, and solid potash and baryta are without action upon 

 it ; it may even be passed over red-hot baryta without under- 

 going any change. It is insoluble in water, soluble in boiling 

 alcohol, from which it crystallizes on cooling in long needles. 

 Chlorine, bromine, and iodine act upon it, forming crystalline 

 substitution products. 



It is isomeric with coumaric acid, and has the formula 

 Q\% PJ8 Qii Cahours names it Acetosalicyle. 



Benzoic acid yields, when treated with chloride of acetyle, 

 another isomeric body — the anhydrous aceto-benzoic acid, 



C»4H«04 4-C4H3 02C1=^4 H303r + ^^^^' 

 Benzoic Chloride of -^ 



acid. acetyle. 



Cahours had some time ago shown, that by the action of chlo- 

 ride of benzoyle on hydride of salicyle a similar crystallizable 

 compound is obtained. It was known as parasalicyle. Chlorides 

 of cumyle, anisyle, and succ'nylc act similarly on hydride of sali- 

 cyle, forming bodies which Cahours names Curnosalicyle, Aniso- 

 salicyle, and Succinosalicyle. 



In the same communication, Cahours has described certain 

 iodides of organic radicals of the fatty acid series. They are 

 formed by distilling iodide of phosphorus with carefully dried 

 acetate, butyrate, or valerianate of potash. Strongly fuming 

 liquids of a brownish colour are obtained, which are decolorized 

 by distillation over mercury. 



Iodide of acetyle boils between 104*^ and 105°, is heavier than 

 water, which decomposes it into acetic and hydriodic acids. With 

 alcohol it forms acetic sether. Iodide of hutyryle and iodide of 

 valeryle are perfectly similar to iodide of acetyle : the former 

 boils at 146° to 148° C, the latter at 108° C. 



* Phil. Mag. vol. xiii. p. 183. 



t Compies Rendus, vol. xliv. p. 1252. 



