373 Royal Society. 



acid of the formula 



C,H„N3 0,. 



Its formation is illustrated by the foUovring equation : 



C,,H,,N,0, + N03=3HO + a,H,,N30,. 



2 equivs. of ben- New acid, 



zamic acid. 



This acid is insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether. It is dissolved 

 •without decomposition by the alkalies in the cold, giving rise to the 

 formation of soluble crystalline salts, which produce precipitates 

 with nitrate of silver and acetate of lead. 



All these salts are decomposed on heating, with evolution of nitro- 

 gen gas. The action of fuming nitric acid upon the dibasic deriva- 

 tive of benzamic acid produces a new acid, furnishing with barium a 

 splendid yellow crystalline salt. The dibasic acid is likewise decom- 

 posed by hydrochloric acid ; in combination with this acid remains 

 a body which can be sublimed in white crystals. 



An alcoholic solution of benzamic ether when treated with nitrous 

 acid yields the ether of the acid previously described. 



The action of nitrous acid on alcoholic solutions of cuminamic and 

 anisamic acids has likewise furnished new bodies, with the study of 

 which I am at present engaged. 



Action of Nitrous Acid on Phenylamine and Nitrophenylamine. 



Phenylamine, when submitted to the modified nitrous acid-process, 

 is transformed into a fusible body containing 



^24 "n Nj, 



which is insoluble in water and easily soluble in alcohol. This com- 

 pound, which possesses feebly basic characters, is formed according 

 to the equation 



C,, H,, N, -F N03= 3H0 -[- a, H„ N3. 



2 equivs. of New com- 



Phenylamine. pound. 



Nitrophenylamine (the alpha-variety yhich is formed by the action 

 of reducing agents upon dinitrobenzoV), similarly treated, furnishes a 

 compound crystallizing in beautifully red needles, 



C,,H,N,0„ 



the formation of which is represented by the equation 

 C,, H, N, O, + N03= 3H0 + C,, H^ N, O,. 



2 equivs. of Nitro- New com- 



phenylamine. pound. 



Treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid, the new compound re- 

 produces nitrophenylamine. The action of chlorine and bromine 

 upon it gives rise to the formation of new crystallized derivatives. 



