1863.] 533 



II. "On the direct Transformation of Iodide of Allyle into 

 Iodide of Propyle." By MAXWELL SIMPSON, M.B., F.R.S. 

 Received April 7, 1863. 



Iodide of allyle, as is well known, combines directly with two 

 equivalents of metallic mercury, a well-defined crystalline compound 

 being formed. Would it be possible to make the same body com- 

 bine with two equivalents of hydrogen, and thus to open a direct 

 passage from the allylic to the propylic series of compounds? 

 Indirectly this transformation has been already effected by M. Ber- 

 thelot through the intervention of propylene gas. 



In order to determine the above point, I submitted iodide of 

 allyle to the action of hydriodic acid gas. On passing this gas into 

 the iodide, the latter became strongly heated and black from the 

 liberation of a large quantity of iodine. As soon as the gas was 

 observed to pass unabsorbed through the liquid, the latter was 

 allowed to cool, and filtered through asbestos. It was then deco- 

 lorized by agitation with a dilute solution of caustic potash, dried 

 over chloride of calcium, and distilled. Almost the entire quantity 

 passed over between 90 and 95 Cent. The portion distilling 

 between 92 and 94 Cent. I collected apart and analysed. The 

 numbers obtained correspond with the composition of iodide of 

 propyle, as will be seen from the following table : 



170 100-00 



The specific gravity of the iodide is 1'73 at zero. 



In order to satisfy myself that the body I had in my hands was 

 really an ether of propylic alcohol, I endeavoured to prepare that 

 alcohol from it. This I succeeded in doing in the following man- 

 ner : About 60 grammes of the iodide were added to an equivalent 

 of oxalate of silver contained in a flask surrounded by water. The 

 mixture became strongly heated from the violence of the reaction, 

 and the decomposition was soon complete. It was then digested 

 with ether. On submitting the ethereal solution to distillation, I 

 observed that, as soon as the ether had passed over, the thermometer 



VOL. XII, 2 Q, 



