M. Schiiler on Acetosalicyle. 301 



Independently of Cabours, but led by the same considerations, 

 Schuler* attempted the formation of coumaric acid by tbis reac- 

 tion, but arrived at results differing from those of Cahours. He 

 found on mixing hydride of salicyle with chloride of acetyle,that 

 a brisk action was 'set np, the mixture became heated, a large 

 quantity of hydrochloric acid was disengaged, and the contents 

 of the tube on cooling soliditied to a crystalline mass which on 

 recrystallization was obtained in brilliant white crystals, ihese 

 crystals gave on analysis numbers corresponding to the tormula 



The formation of such a body is inexplicable on the suppo- 

 sition of a simple action between the two substances, bchulev 

 thought the substance not quite pure, and that its true torraitla 

 would be CIS H6 04, 



C14 H6 0-* + C^ H3 0^ Cl= HCl + 2H0 + C^^ H^ 0^ ; 

 but the substance on being carefully purified gave still the same 

 results to analysis. . , 



Schuler endeavoured to prepare a larger quantity ot the suD- 

 stance with the view of studying its products of decomposition, 

 and took great care to purify the substances employed in the re- 

 action. But he found that pure chloride of acetyle was entirely 

 without action on hydride of salicyle in the cold. The substances 

 were then heated together in a sealed tube in the water- bath. 

 On opening the tube a stream of hydrochloric acid was given oh, 

 and the contents were found to be changed into a brown viscous 

 mass from which nothing crystalline could be extracted. How- 

 ever the experiment with the pure materials was varied, the result 



was the same. , -, . , pit ^ v.^^ 



On adding to a mixture of pure hydi-ide of salicyle and chlo- 

 ride of acetyle, a few drops of terchloride of phosphorus, a very 

 energetic action was set up, hydrochloric acid was given ott, and 

 the crystalline substance obtained as in the first experiments. 

 Phosphorous acid acts in a similar manner to terchloride ot 

 phosphorus, except that the action is far slower. The crystals 

 obtained were analysed; the mean of several close y-agi^emg 

 analyses gave results which are expressed by the formula L H U , 

 or C^^ H^* 0^. The action may take place according to this 

 equation : — 



2(C'* H« OHC" IP 02 CI) +PCP=PCF 02-I-2HC1 

 + 3HO + C3«Hi4 08. 

 Schuler names the body acetosalicyle to denote its origin, and 

 from his description of it there can be no doubt that he and 

 Cahours have obtained the same body. 



* Journal fur Prakt. Chemie, vol. IxxLi. p. 258. 



