Mr. Noad on the Action of Nitric Acid o?i Cymol. l*] 



tion has been made to the number of carbo-hydrogens, and 

 we have obtained kno^vledge of a new body, which was de- 

 scribed by the first chemists under the name of retinaphtha, 

 by the second under that of benzoene, and by the last under 

 that of dracyle ; for all three Berzelius* has proposed the 

 more appropriate name of toluolf (C,4 Hg) ; this body, which 

 differs from benzol in containing Co H2 rnore, also represents 

 that carbo-hydrogen in a new family, a num^ber of members 

 of which has already become known. Thus Deville has 

 shown that on treating his toluol with sulphuric and nitric 

 acids, the corresponding terms of hypo-sulphobenzolic acid, 

 nitrobenzol, and dinitrobenzol are obtained. Investigations 

 of the action of nitric acid on oil of anise by Cahours J, and 

 on Oleum dracunculi by Laurent §, have led to the discovery 

 of anisylic, nitranisylic acids, andanisol (draconic, nitrodraco- 

 nic acids and dracol), corresponding respectively to salicylic, 

 nitrosalicylic acid and phenol ; more recently Cahours || has 

 found in hydride of anisyle even the term corresponding to 

 hydride of salicyle, and Drs. Muspratt and Hofmann^ have 

 produced the organic base corresponding to aniline ; in the 

 paper in which this new and remarkable substance is de- 

 scribed, these gentlemen have given a table, in which the 

 analogy between the anisyle and salicyle groups has been 

 pointed out. 



In order to render this parallelism complete one principal 

 term of the new series has hitherto been wanting, viz. the 

 acid corresponding to benzoic acid. In the following paper 

 will be pointed out the formation and properties of this sub- 

 stance, and the corresponding nitrogenous acid, both arising 

 amongst the products of the oxidation of cymol. 



• Jahresher'iclil, xsii. p. 354. 



•f- On conipaiiiig the properties winch Pellctier and Walter ascribe to re- 

 tinaphtha witli those of bcnzcene given by Deville, it is nearly certain that 

 both substances are identical, thougli Deville seems to be inclined to esta- 

 blish a difference. A comparative study is however still wanting. Regard- 

 ing dracyle, I may mention here that when engaged in the investigation of 

 toluidinc with Dr. Muspratt, we ])repared a portion of this body according 

 to the directions of Glenard and Boudault. The dracyle obtained possessed 

 all the properties of toluol; wo converted the body thus prepared into ni- 

 trodracylc (nitrotoluol), from which, by treatment with reducing agents, 

 beautiful crystals of toluidine were obtained. In our paper on this organic 

 base an analysis of the sulphate is given, and on referring I find that we 

 forgot to mention that the salt analysed was prepared with the very toluidine 

 obtained from the carbo-hydrogen arising with the distillation products of 

 dragon's blood. This experiment removes any doubt that might have re- 

 mained as to the identity of toluol and dracyle. — Dr. A. IF. Hofmaun. 



X Liebig's Aiinakn, xli. .'50. § Ibid, xliv, 313. 



II Ibid.lvi. 307. IT Mem. of Chem. Soc. vol. ii. p. 3G7. 



Phil. Mag. S. 3. Vol. 82. No. 212. Jan. 1 848. C 



