68 



Oxalic Ether. Ethylamine. Diethyl-oxamide. Alcohol. 



In practice it appears that the second of these compounds only is 

 produced. 



In the action of oxalate of ethyl upon diethylamine, two similar 

 phases may be distinguished capable of producing respectively 



Diethyl-oxamate of ethyl ...... [( 2 ^" ( 2 H ^ j O, and 



(C 2 o 2 yn 



Tetrethyl-oxamide .......... (C 2 H 5 ) 2 >>N . 



(a HJJ 



In practice the first of these two compounds only is generated. 

 The action of oxalate of ethyl upon triethylamine might have in- 

 volved the formation of the secondary oxalate of tetrethylammonium, 



under the circumstances under which I have worked, the two sub- 

 stances do not combine. 



The product of the reaction of oxalate of ethyl upon the mixture 

 of the ethyl-bases, when distilled in the water-bath, yields triethyl- 

 amine free from ethylamine and diethylamine. 



The residue in the retort solidifies on cooling into a fibrous mass 

 of crystals of diethyloxamide, which are soaked with an oily liquid. 

 They are drained from the oil and recrystallized from boiling water. 

 Distilled with potassa, these crystals furnish ethylamine free from 

 diethylamine and triethylamine. 



The oily liquid is cooled to 0, when a few more of the crystals 

 are deposited ; it is then submitted to distillation. The boiling-point 

 rapidly rises to 260. What distils at that temperature is pure 

 diethyl-oxamate of ethyl, from which, by distillation with potassa, 

 diethylamine free from ethylamine and triethylamine may be 

 obtained. 



The Society then adjourned to Thursday, January 10, 1861. 



