1863.] 397 



The liquid is in fact the ethylic ether of an acid possessing the 

 same composition as the leucic acid obtained by Strecker* in acting 

 on leucin by nitrous acid. Upon the oxalic acid type its formula 

 may be thus expressed : 



C 2 ^ O 



HO 

 C 2 H 6 0. 



Leucic ether cannot be directly derived from the action of zinc- 

 ethyl upon oxalic ether, but it is produced when water is added to 

 the result of that reaction. There can scarcely be a doubt that the 

 body first formed is zincoleucic ether. 



I have not succeeded in isolating this body ; but, on the assump- 

 tion of its production, the action of zincethyl upon oxalic ether may 

 be thus formulated : 



O 

 O 



c 



. Ethylate of 



Oxalic ether. ^ Y zinc. 



Zincoleucic ether. 



In contact with water zincoleucic ether is decomposed with the 

 formation of leucic ether and hydrated oxide of zinc : 



rc 2 H 5 rc 2 H 6 



C 2 H s Til C 2 H 5 



CJ O +S}0=C 2 < O + 

 I ZnO I HO 



LC 2 H 6 LC 2 H 5 



> S ^_ s 



Zincoleucic ether. Leucic ether. 



Leucic ether is a colourless, transparent, and somewhat oily liquid, 



possessing a peculiar and penetrating ethereal odour and a sharp 



taste. It is insoluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol or 



ether. Its specific gravity is '9613 at 18- 7 C. ; it boils at 175 C., 



* Ann. der Chem. u. Pharm., Bd. Ixviii. 54. 



