186 Mr. F. Guthrie on the Preparation of the Double A2thers. 
salt was obtained, ‘5508 grm. of which yielded -2247 grm. of © 
platinum, or 40°79 per cent. Now as the body 
2(NH* Cl Pt Cl?) + C4 H? 0? NHS J Pt Cl? 
requires 40°14 per cent., it follows that the hydrochloric acid 
had determined the splitting up of the body, as indicated by the 
dotted lines in the above scheme. This result confirms also all 
the preceding analyses. 
Owens College, Manchester, 
August 1857. 
XXII. On the Preparation of the Double Athers. 
By FRreprerick GuTuRie*, 
> acting upon chloride of amyle with an alcoholic solution 
of caustic potash in a sealed tube at 100° C., M. Balard 
obtained a volatile ztherial liquid boiling at 112° C., which he 
described as oxide of amyle. The boiling-pomt induced Dr. 
Williamson to regard this product as the double zther of the 
composition Cl? H!!O, C4H°O, being, in fact, identical with 
the zther he himself obtained by the action of iodide of amyle 
on xthylate of potash, or of iodide of ethyle on amylate of 
potash. 
The latter chemist also describes this ether as a product of 
the action of sulphuric acid upon a mixture of the corresponding 
alcohols. As I required the ether in point in rather large quan- 
tity, | endeavoured to form it in the last-mentioned manner ; 
but after modifying the process in many different ways, and em- 
ploying large quantities of the mixed alcohols, I was forced to 
abandon it ; for although the product had the characteristic smell 
of double zther, yet I was unable to deduce a liquid of fixed 
boiling-point. The cause of this appears to lie in the fact, that 
the minimum temperature sufficient for the ztherification of the 
eethylic alcohol effects a more profound decomposition of the 
amylic aleohol, amylene or even sulphurous acid being formed. 
The experiment of M. Balard therefore naturally presented 
itself as suggesting a possible and, if possible, economical 
method of attaining my object. The following modification of 
it was found to answer very satisfactorily. 
A retort connected with an inverted and well-cooled condenser 
was half-filled with amylic alcohol. Into this about two equiva- 
lents of very finely-powdered caustic potash were introduced in 
small quantities at a time, and the whole boiled for half an hour. 
To the contents of the retort, which became solid on cooling, an 
equivalent of iodide of zthyle was added gradually through a 
* Communicated by the Author. 
