84- Frankland and Duppa On the Acids [Feb. 16, 



only ones entering into the composition of the resulting acids, which proved 

 to have respectively the composition of leucic or diethoxalic acid, 



and dimethoxalic acid, 



Certain theoretical considerations, however, rendered it important for us 

 to be able distinctly to label each radical entering into the composition of 

 the derived acids, so as to enable us with certainty to trace its source, and, 

 if possible, to determine its position or value in the resulting complex 

 molecule. We therefore endeavoured to accomplish the desired end by 

 acting with zinc upon a mixture consisting of one atom of oxalic ether and 

 one atom each of the iodides of methyl and ethyl, by which we hoped to 

 obtain an acid of the following composition : 



rcui, 



CH 3 



cl 



I OH 



Experiment completely proved the practicability of this reaction, and its 

 result even exceeded our expectations, since not only was the ether corre- 

 sponding to the above acid formed with the greatest facility, but it was 

 produced almost to the complete exclusion of the ethers of leucic and 

 dimethoxalic acids. 



200 grms. of oxalic ether were mixed with the proper atomic propor- 

 tions of iodide of methyl and iodide of ethyl, and were digested with granu- 

 lated zinc for several days at a temperature of from 3o to 40 C., until 

 the supernatant liquid became oily, and solidified to a crystalline mass on 

 cooling. Water being now added until effervescence ceased, the whole was 

 submitted to distillation in an oil-bath. With the exception of a small quan- 

 tity of the mixed iodides of ethyl and methyl that had escaped decompo- 

 sition, the distillate consisted of a homogeneous liquid composed of water, 

 ethylic and methylic alcohols, and an ethereal body, which last was sepa- 

 rated by repeated agitation with large volumes of ether and subsequent 

 rectification. In this manner there was obtained a large quantity of a 

 liquid which boiled constantly at 165 0> 5 C., and yielded on analysis num- 

 bers very closely corresponding with he formula 



