286 On Alloxan and new Derivatives. 
and confirms the previous statements. In its formation the pro- 
portion of hydrocyanic acid is immaterial ; a very small quantity 
can convert a large quantity of alloxan into oxalan. It takes 
no part in the reaction, and merely serves as a sort of ferment. 
It is known that hydrocyanic acid effects in a similar manner the 
conversion of hydride of benzoyle into the polymeric benzoin. 
When a tolerably concentrated solution of alloxan is used, dialu- 
rate of ammonia is formed. Strecker’s analyses give for oxalan 
the formula C° H® N3 0%; and he expresses its formation thus: 
Alloxan . C®&H?N508 CS H5N80® Oxalan 
Alloxan . C®H?N?08 8 H4N208 Dialuric aci 
Atty & o 7 =C® H*N?0®  Dialuric acid. 
- Water. . H O F 4 
Ammonia . H? N C 0 
Cle HINEO! Cle HI NSO! 
It may be regarded as the amide of oxaluric acid, oxaluramide. 
By treatment with water it is resolved into oxalurate of ammonia, 
a part of which is further decomposed into oxalic acid and urea. 
C® H® N3 064 2HO=NH?‘ 0, C® H3 N? 0’. 
Oxalan. Oxalurate of ammonia. 
Compounds analogous to oxalan, but containing ethyle, methyle, 
or phenyle in the place of hydrogen, may be obtained by substi- 
tuting in the preparation the corresponding amide base for 
ammonia. 
If to a solution of alloxan containing hydrocyanic acid, car- 
bonate of potash is added to alkaline reaction, carbonic acid is 
disengaged and dialuric acid separates, and the solution contains 
oxalurate of potash. Thus, 
2(C®H?N?0°) +2 HO+2 KO=C®H®K N°08+ C°H3KN?08+2C0? 
Alloxan. Dialurate of | Oxalurate of 
potash. potash. 
Both in the case of the decomposition of alloxan by cyanide of 
ammonium and by cyanide of potassium, the hydrogen of the 
water changes part of the alloxan into dialuric acid, while the 
oxygen oxidizes a like quantity into carbonic acid and parabanic 
acid. In the presence of ammonia the parabanic acid forms 
oxaluramide, in the presence of fixed alkalies an oxalurate. 
Pure ferro- and ferri-cyanide of potassium have no action on 
alloxan solution ; but if, as is frequently the case, they contain 
traces of cyanide of potassium, oxaluramide is formed. A solu- 
tion of alloxan might accordingly be used to detect the presence 
of cyanide of potassium in ferro- or ferri-cyanide of potassium. 
Strecker suggests, and will pursue the question, whether the 
poisonous action of hydrocyanic acid on the blood of vertebrate 
animals may not depend on its exerting a decomposing action 
Carbonic acid. 
