134 M, Strecker on Sarcine. 



Q\6 JJ8 ]y4^ and it doubtless contains C* and N^ in the form of 

 cyanogen. Nachbaur views it as being analogous in composition 

 with Hofmann's cyaniline, which is also distinguished by its 

 instability. 



A new mode of the formation of chloride of benzoyle has been 

 observed by Eeketoff*^ who, however, does not state whether it 

 is advantageous in a practical point of view. 



When a mixture of chloride of sodium and anhydrous acid 

 sulphate of soda acts upon benzoate of soda at about 200° C, 

 hydrochloric acid and chloride of benzoyle are set free. The 

 latter remains diffused in the mass, but may be extracted by 

 means of ether. The action is as follows : — 



^^ ^ if 1 ^ + ^^^ + Na2 CP = G7 H^ 0, CI + Na^ SO" + HCl. 



The sulphate of soda combined with the anhydrous acid serves 

 to prevent the action of sulphuric acid on the benzoic acid, and 

 formation of benzoesulphuric acid. 



In the preparation of creatine by Liebig^s process, there is 

 obtained a syrupy mother-liquor which contains several sub- 

 stances, among which are creatinine, inosinic acid, and lactic 

 acid. Strecker t has further discovered in it a substance pos- 

 sessing feeble basic properties, which he names sarcine. It is 

 obtained by adding to this mother-liquor a solution of acetate of 

 copper, with which it forms a compound ; this is then decom- 

 posed by means of sulphuretted hydrogen. Sarcine is a crystal- 

 line powder which can be heated to 150° without decomposition. 

 It is somewhat soluble in boiling watei*, but dissolves with diffi- 

 culty in cold water and in boiling alcohol. 



Its composition is C^° H"* N'* 0^ ; it has feeble basic pi'operties ; 

 it forms a crystalline compound with hydrochloric acid, which has 

 the formula C^" H" N* 0^ HCl + 2aq. This compound forms a 

 double salt with bichloride of platinum. The nitrate and sul- 

 phate of sarcine are crystalline bodies, but are decomposed by 

 being crystallized from water. 



Sarcine also combines with bases and with salts. A compound 

 with baryta has the formula C^^ H^ N'*02 + 3BaO-|-2aq. It 

 also forms a compound with nitrate of silver, C'° H^N'*0^,AgNO^, 

 and with oxide of silver, C^o H^ Ag^ N" 0^+ aq. 



In its chemical relations sarcine has great similai'ity with gua- 

 nine, a nitrogenous substance discovered in considerable quanti- 

 ties in guano by Unger, the principal difference being in the 

 action of nitric acid on the two substances. 



* Bulletin de la Societe Chimique de Paris, January 11, 1859. 

 t Liehig's Annalen, May 1857, October 1858. 



