M. Wurtz on Derivatives of Glycol. 125 
Wurtz has also*¥ found that oxide of ethylene can combine 
directly with ammonia to form very powerful organic bases. 
When oxide of ethylene is added to a concentrated aqueous solu- 
tion of ammonia, the two bodies combine with great energy ; and 
on evaporating the mixture, a strongly alkaline liquor is obtained. 
By neutralization with hydrochloric acid and further evaporation, 
brilliant colourless rhombohedra are obtained which have the 
formula 
6° HH! N 0%, HCl. 
With bichloride of platinum this body combines to forma double 
salt which crystallizes in golden yellow laminz ; the composition 
of this body is expressed by the formula 
€6 HN 68, HCl, PtCl2. 
The mother-liquor from the above rhombohedra contains an 
uncrystallizable hydrochlorate. When this is evaporated and 
bichloride of platinum added, a double salt is obtained which 
crystallizes in magnificent orange-red rhomboidal prisms; their 
composition is 
€* H!! N 6?, HCl, PtCl?. 
The base contained in the latter platinum-salt contains the ele- 
ments of an atom of ammonia, and of two atoms of oxide of 
ethylene ; its formation is thus expressed : 
2774 
2CH40 +NIB= Hig }NHP=Ct H" NO, 
ae New base. 
ethylene. 
The base contained in the rhombohedric hydrochlorate con- 
tains the elements of an atom of ammonia, and of three atoms of 
oxide of ethylene. Thus: 
C?H40 
3¢? H404+ NH?=C?H40 | NH3=C® Hs NO}. 
Oxide of C2H46 
ethylene. New base. 
These bases result from the tendency which oxide of ethylene 
exhibits when added to the elements of another body to form 
direct combinations, and also to double or triple its molecule. 
Unlike the compound ammonias, these bases are not formed by 
substitution, but by direct addition; they are rather to be 
regarded as conjugated ammonias, and seem to support the idea 
of Berzelius, that the alkaloids contain ammonia ready formed. 
Wurtz considers, nevertheless, that they belong to the ammonia 
type, and reserves for a future communication the discussion of 
their constitution. . 
* Comptes Rendus, December 3, 1859. 
