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this method, the reaction assuming a totally different form. I. have 

 not yet been able to elaborate the circumstances which determine the 

 two different actions, but I have ascertained the nature of the sub- 

 stance which is formed instead of triethylamine. 



Cyanate of ethyl, when allowed to flow in a slow stream upon per- 

 fectly pure ethylate of sodium, is powerfully acted upon ; heat is 

 evolved, which volatilizes a portion of the cyanate of ethyl; by far the 

 larger portion, however, is converted into cyanurate of ethyl, which 

 may be obtained with all its properties, simply by exhausting the dry 

 cake in the retort, after cooling, with cold water. 



On submitting the mixture of cyanurate of ethyl with ethylate of 

 sodium to distillation at gradually increasing temperatures, ethylene 

 gas is abundantly evolved, while a powerfully alkaline liquid condenses 

 in the receiver, consisting of alcohol, an oily compound easily soluble 

 in alcohol and difficultly soluble in water, ethylamine, and lastly, a 

 powerfully basic oil, which boils at a very high temperature, at which 

 it is partly decomposed. 



The basic oil forms a series of saline compounds, amongst which the 

 splendidly crystallized iodide, the beautiful platinum-salt, and the 

 gold-salt deserve to be mentioned. The two latter, on analysis, were 

 found to contain respectively, 



Platinum-salt ____ C 7 H 17 N 8 , H Cl, Pt C1 2 . 



Gold-salt ........ C 7 H 17 N 8 , H Cl, Au C1 3 . 



The composition of the base, such as it exists in combination with 

 acids, is thus seen to be represented by the formula 



C 7 H 17 N 3 . 



In the free state, however, this substance retains with great perti- 

 nacity one molecule of water, being in fact 



C 7 H 19 N 3 = C 7 H 17 N 3 , H 2 0. 



It owes its origin to the gradual action on the cyanurate of ethyl 

 of the hydrated alkali, which is produced by the decomposition of 

 the ethylate of sodium under the influence of heat, 



Cyanuric ether. New base. 



The interpretation of this new compound presents no difficulty. 



