448 



This formula is established by the reaction between mannite and 

 hydriodic acid. When the two bodies are heated together iodine is 

 evolved, and a heavy oily liquid distils. This liquid is iodide of 

 hexyl. By using a sufficient excess of hydriodic acid 8 grras. of 

 manuite to 100 cubic centimetres of strong acid boiling at 125 C. 

 and by transmitting carbonic acid through the hot liquid, so as 

 to remove the oily product as rapidly as possible from contact with 

 hot iodine, a quantity of iodide of hexyl, approximating closely to 

 that required by the following equation, may be obtained : 

 Mannite. Iodide of Hexyl. 



+ 6H 2 O + 1 10 . 



From 96 grms. of mannite we have obtained 83 grms. of very 

 nearly pure iodide of hexyl. 



The equation requires 182 grms. mannite to 212 grms. iodide of 

 hexyl. 



The identity of our product with iodide of hexyl was shown by 

 its analysis, and by the following reactions : 



Digested with water and oxide of silver, it yields an oily liquid 

 lighter than water, differing completely in smell from amylic alcohol, 

 and having the composition of hexylic alcohol. Its analysis gave 

 carbon 70'21 per cent., and hydrogen 13-84. 



The calculated numbers for hexylic alcohol are 

 Carbon . . . . 70'59, 

 Hydrogen .. 1373, 

 which agree completely with our result. 



When caustic potash and common alcohol are employed instead of 

 oxide of silver with water, a different result occurs ; the iodide splits 

 up into hexylene and hydriodic acid, which latter reacts upon the 

 potash. 



Hexylene prepared by this process is an oily liquid, lighter than 

 water, of very penetrating odour, and boiling at about 68 C. Its 

 constitution was proved on the one hand by its analysis and vapour- 

 density, and on the other by its deportment with bromine, upon 

 which it reacts with extreme violence, combining without evolution 

 of HBr, and yielding a heavy liquid, whose composition, ascertained 

 by analysis, is 6 H 12 Br 2 . 



We defer the further description of our compounds, as it is our 



