273 



with oxalate of ethyl in the presence of alcohol, is converted into a 

 compound crystallizing in long needles, to which analysis assigns the 



formula 



C 10 H 16 N 2 6 . 



This substance is the ethyl-ether of a diatomic amidic acid, f . e. 

 the oxamethane of ethylene-diamine, 



C H N O - * ** * ' O 



^10 *1 16 U fl (C a H 5 ) 2 J Ua * 



The action of monamines and diamines upon this compound gives 

 rise to the formation of white insoluble bodies, similar to oxamide. 

 1 have not analysed these substances, the composition of which is 

 sufficiently indicated by the logical development of the theoretical 

 notions acquired in the study of the series of monatomic compounds. 

 The action of oxalate of ethyl on ethylene-diamine produces, however, 

 in addition, a new class of organic bases of a higher order, containing 

 both ethylene and oxalyl. The examination of these bases, which 

 are not represented among the monatomic compounds, will be the 

 subject of a later communication. 



X. " Notes of Researches on the Poly- Ammonias." No. XII. 

 Action of Cyanate of Ethyl on Urea. By A. W. HOFMANN, 

 LL.D., F.R.S. Received May 24, 1861. 



The facility with which creatine, under the influence of chemical 

 agents, furnishes urea or its products of decomposition, has led to 

 many attempts at reproducing the flesh-base from urea. Weltzien* 

 has endeavoured to effect this transformation by submitting ethyl- 

 urea to the action of heat, expecting that this compound would ex- 

 hibit a change analogous to one of the phases of the transformation 

 of normal urea, under the influence of heat, 



2CH 4 N 2 Of = C 2 H 5 N 3 2 +H 3 N 



Urea. Biuret. Ammonia. 



2C 3 H 8 N 2 = C 4 H 9 N 3 2 +C 2 H 7 N (?) 



Ethyl-urea. Creatine. Ethylamine. 



The reaction, however, appears to be accomplished in another form. 



* Ann. der Chem. und Pharm., c. 191. 

 f H = l; = 16; C = 12, &c. 



