368 Royal Society : — 



January 6, 1859. — Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., President, in the 

 Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 

 Letter to Dr. Sharpey, Sec. R.S., from Dr. Thomas WilUams, 

 F.R.S., dated Swansea, Dec. 12, 1858. 



" A Sixth Memoir on Quautics." By Arthur Caj'ley, Esq., F.R.S. 



"Contributions towards the History of the Monamines." By 

 A. W. Hofmann, LL.D., F.R.S. 



2. Action of Bisulphide of Carhon ujwn Amyhtmine. 



In a note on the alleged transformation of thialdine into leucine, 

 addressed to the Royal Society about eighteen months ago*, I 

 alluded to a crystalline substance observed by Wagner when sub- 

 mitting amylamine to the action of bisulphide of carbon. This sub- 

 stance was not analysed, but considering its mode of formation, 

 Wagner suggested that it might possibly be thialdine. 



C,„H,3N-FC,S,=C,,H,3NS,. 



Amylamine. Thialdine. 



A superficial comparison of the properties of thialdine with those 

 of the substance produced by the action of bisulphide of carbon upon 

 amylamine, enabled me at once to recognize the ditfereuce of the two 

 bodies ; and satisfied with the result, 1 did not at the time examine 

 more minutely into the nature of the latter substance. 



The new interest conferred upon leucine by recent researches 

 which characterize this substance as capronamic acid, has called my 

 attention back to the sulphuretted derivative of amylamine. 



This body may be readily procured by mixing anhydrous amyl- 

 amine with a solution of dry bisulphide of carbon in anhydrous 

 ether. The mixture becomes hot, and deposits, on cooling, white 

 shiny scales which are scarcely soluble in ether, and may therefore 

 be purified by washing with this liquid. 



The new body is likewise insoluble in water, but readily dissolves 

 in alcohol ; when dry, it may be exposed for a time to a temperature 

 of 100° C. without undergoing fusion ; after some time, however, the 

 substance begins to be liquefied and to undergo complete decom- 

 position. The same change occurs, although more slowly, at the 

 common temperature, when sulphuretted hydrogen is evolved ; a 

 mixture of free sulphur with a new crystalline substance, extremely 

 fusible, insoluble in water, but soluble both in alcohol and ether, 

 remaining behind. 



Analysis has proved that the compound produced by the action 

 of bisulphide of carbon upon amylamine contains 



C„ IT,3 NS,, or rather C,, H,, N^ S, ; 

 * Proceedings, vol. viii. Op, 4. 



