438 M. Wurtz on the Ether of Glycol. 



C^ H"* 0"^. Its formation may be thus expressed : — 

 C H5 ClO^ + KO = C H^ 0^ + KCl. 



Monohydrochloric Oxide of 



glycol. ethylene. 



The formula was determined both by analysis and from its 

 vapour-density, which agrees with the calculated numbers. It 

 is isomeric with aldehyde, with which it has many points of 

 resemblance and also of difference. It boils at 13°'5. Aldehyde 

 boUs at 21°. Like aldehyde, it forms definite crystalline com- 

 pounds with alkaline bisulphite; but, unlike aldehyde, it does 

 not form with ammoniacal ether the crystalline etherial com- 

 pound characteristic of aldehyde*. Pentachloride of phosphorus 

 acts upon it, forming chloride of ethylene, and oxychloride of 

 phosphorus. 



By treating propyle-glycol with hydrochloric acid, and then 

 with potash, Wurtz obtained the oxide of propylene, C^ H*"" 0^, 

 isomeric with propylic aldehyde, and with acetone. 



The relations between the formulse of aldehyde and of glycol 

 may be thus written : — 



C^H3 0n c^H,",o,_ 



[13 on 



H / 



Aldehyde. Oxide of ethylene. 



Wurtz considers the bodies here described to be the true 

 ethers of glycol; for they yield the chlorides, and from the chlo- 

 rides the glycols themselves, while from the aldehydes the gly- 

 cols cannot be prepared. It is true that the glycols, by treat- 

 ment with dehydrating agents, yield aldehydes ; but in this case 

 the reaction is very violent, and it is possible that the product 

 at first formed passes into aldehyde by a molecular trans- 

 formation. 



M. Borodinet examined the action of iodide of ethyle on hy- 

 drobenzamide and on amarine, in the expectation of obtaining 

 a clue to the constitution of these isomeric bodies. The prin- 

 cipal product of the action of iodide of ethyle on the former 

 substance is an oily body, which, when treated by oxide of lead, 

 and purified by animal charcoal, is ultimately obtained in the form 



* An analogous relation is found to exist between butjTal and butyral- 

 dehyde. The former, which occurs among the products of the destructive 

 distillation of butjTate of lime, boils at 95° C. It has the formula of bu- 

 tyric aldehyde, C H* O", and has all the properties of an aldehyde, w ith 

 the exception of that of forming a crj-stalline compound with ammonia. 

 Butyraldehyde, which is formed by the oxidation of certain animal sub- 

 stances, and boils at 68° to 75° C, appears to be the true aldehyde, for 

 it forms the compound with ammonia. — E. A. 



t Liebig's Anttalen, April 1859. 



