404 



DETERMINATION OF EUDESMIC ACID. 



The crude oil from the Pagan's Creek material was fractionated, and the 

 portion distilling between 245-292 C. treated with aqueous potash, the adhering 

 oil removed by ether, and the alkaline solution acidified. The organic acid thus 

 obtained separated in the crystalline condition. Although much of the ester 

 had altered at the temperature to which it had been subjected, yet a large pro- 

 portion distilled unchanged. This was saponified by alcoholic potash and the 

 acid separated in the usual way. The residue boiling above 292 was treated in 

 a similar manner, and the whole of the acid collected. It was purified by first 

 boiling with animal charcoal in an alcoholic solution, again separated, and 

 finally recrystallised two or three times from boiling water. 



The acid as thus prepared was colourless, and melted at 160 C. In 

 general appearance it somewhat resembled salicylic acid, and crystallised 

 in rhombic needle prisms which polarised well. It was readily soluble in boiling 

 water and in most organic solvents, but was sparingly soluble in cold water 

 (i part in 1,355 parts of water at 20). The acid was unsaturated; sublimed 

 with difficulty, apparently unchanged, and was exceedingly soluble in ammonia. 

 The neutral ammonium salt gave an orange-coloured precipitate with ferric 

 chloride, and a bluish-green precipitate with sulphate of copper. The silver 

 salt was prepared from the ammonium salt, and this on ignition gave 33-86 and 

 33-83 per cent, of silver in two determinations, corresponding to a molecular 

 weight 215. The analytical results for the acid indicated the C, 4 H I8 O 2 mole- 

 cule, with molecular weight 218, so that eudesmic acid is considered to have 

 that formula. 



The name is derived from that given by Robert Brown to the genus i.e., 

 Eudesmia. 



DETERMINATION OF PHENYLACETIC ACID. 



The crude oil from the Rydal material was boiled for some hours with 

 aqueous potash and the acid of the ester prepared in the usual way. When finally 

 purified it was of a laminated structure and a paraffin-like nature, and melted 

 at 76 C. When titrated with a deci-normal solution of sodium hydrate, the acid 

 gave a molecular weight of 135-6, assuming it to be monobasic. It was a 

 saturated acid, and when treated with manganese dioxide and sulphuric acid 

 gave an odour of benzaldehyde. This evidence points to the acid of the ester 

 being phenylacetic acid. In general appearance and chemical characters it 

 differed from, the corresponding acid obtained in a similar manner from the 

 Pagan's Creek material. 



The amyl esters occurring in the oil of E. aggregata are thus of particular 

 scientific interest, and worthy of more complete investigation. It is unfortunate 

 that the yield of oil from the species is so small, and the localities where it grows 

 difficult of access. 



