1865.] of the Lactic Series. 85 



The production of this ether is explained in the following equations : 



Oxalic ether. Zincmonethyl-etho- ethylate. 



methoxalate of ethyl. 



fcH 3 5 



nJ QZnCH 3+ 2H,0=C a < 



| ~6T~ I OT~ n J 1 UJ1 



[ OC 2 H 5 ^ OC 2 H 5 Zinc hydrate. 



Zincmonethyl-etho. Ethylic ethometh- 



methoxalate of ethyl. oxalate. 



A not inconsiderable amount of the ether thus formed in this and in the 

 analogous reactions described in our previous communications, appears to 

 be decomposed by the zinc hydrate ; at all events an appreciable quantity 

 of the zinc-salt of the derived acid is always obtained from the residue 

 left after distillation of the ethereal product. 



Ethylic ethomethoxalate, as we propose to 'name the new ether, is a 

 colourless, transparent, and mobile liquid, possessing a penetrating ethereal 

 odour much resembling that of ethylic diethoxalate. It is very soluble in 

 water, alcohol, and ether, and has a specific gravity of '9768 at 13 C. 

 It boils at 165'5 C., and its vapour has a density of 4'98 ; the theoretical 

 number for a two- volume vapour (H 2 O= 2 vols.) of the above formula 

 being 5 '04. 



Ethylic ethomethoxalate is readily decomposed, even by aqueous solu- 

 tions of the alkalies and of baryta, yielding alcohol and a salt of the base. 

 The ethomethoxalate of barium was thus prepared. It crystallizes from 

 an aqueous solution as a beautiful radiated mass of silky lustre, very easily 

 soluble in water. Its analysis gave numbers closely corresponding with 

 the formula 



>(C a H 5 ) 3 

 (CH 3 ) 2 

 (OH). 

 8 



Q Ba" 



By exactly decomposing this salt with dilute sulphuric acid and evapo- 

 rating the filtrate, first in a retort, and afterwards in vacuo, ethomethoxalic 

 acid was obtained as a splendid white crystalline mass, fusing at 63 C., 

 subliming readily at 100, and condensing' in magnificent star-like groups 

 upon a cold surface. It boils with decomposition at 190 C. Ethometh- 

 oxalic acid is very readily soluble in ether, alcohol, and water ; small frag- 

 ments of it thrown upon water rotate like camphor whilst dissolving. 



