277 



By this transformation the substance is characterized as the dia- 

 tomic ammonia-derivative of phenylic alcohol, carbonic and oxalic 

 acids, as carbonyl-oxalyl-diphhenyl-diamide, 



(CO)" ] 

 C 15 H 10 N 2 3 = (C 2 2 )"lN 2 . 



( C 6 H o) 2 J 



The new substance, both by composition and transformation, is 

 closely allied to some compounds already known. The action of 

 oxidizing agents on alloxan, and even on uric acid, has furnished to 

 Liebig and Wohler the substance known as parabanic acid, 



(CO) 

 C 3 H 2 N 3 3 = (C 2 2 )N 2 , 



which, by the action of alkalies, is converted into a carbonate, an 

 oxalate and ammonia. 



At a later period Stenhouse and Eochleder, when examining the 

 products of decomposition of caffeine under the influence respectively 

 of nitric acid and of chlorine, observed a crystalline compound 

 (nitrotheine, cholestrophane), 



(CO)" ] 

 C 5 H 6 N 2 3 = (C 2 2 )"lN 2 , 



( CH 3 ) 2 J 



which, under the influence of alkalies, yields methylamine * together 

 with a carbonate and an oxalate, and may be viewed as dimethylated 

 parabanic acid. 



The compound which forms the subject of this Note, accordingly 

 may be considered as dipheny lated parabanic acid. 



The transformations of dicyanomelaniline have suggested to me the 

 study of the action of cyanogen upon some compounds having a com- 

 position somewhat analogous to that of melaniline. Thus the action 



* According to Rochleder, this compound, when boiled with potassa, yields am- 

 moniacal vapours, in which he suspects the presence of ethylamine. The formula 

 of the substance also represents an ethyl-compound, 



(C 0)" 



0)" I 

 ,0 2 y IN,: 

 :H 5 )HJ 



(C 2 . 



in this case ebullition with potassa should disengage a mixture of ethylaraine and 

 ammonia. But the fact that caffeine, when boiled with an alkali, evolves methyl- 

 amine, renders it more probable that the caffeine-derivative is a methyl-compound. 

 Experimentally the question remains undecided. 



