CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 199 



It forms t\v<> compounds with men-uric chloride. (C 1 8 H U 

 N.I K 'U.IIgClj crystalli/es in small white needles, which 

 arc -lightly soluble in water and in dilute alcohol, insoluble 

 in absolute alcohol, and on exj>osure to moist air undergo 

 change. The second compound, 2(( 1 8 H n N.II('l)..'SHg( 1 l 2 , is 

 obtained by adding an excess of' concentrated mercuric 

 chloride to a concentrated solution of the hydrochloride. 

 It forms slightly yellow, somewhat longer needles which 

 are insoluble in the principal solvents, and are likewise 

 changed by atmospheric humidity. 



The IODOMETHYLATE, C 8 H n N.CH 3 I, is formed by 

 mixing solutions of the base and methyl iodide in absolute 

 ether. It is deposited a.s a network of fine white needles, 

 which are but slowly altered in the air, and are soluble in 

 absolute alcohol. This solution on the addition of a little 

 potash assumes a dark-red color, which is heightened by 

 the addition of a little hydrochloric or acetic acid, and 

 d.-t roved by ammonia without any resultant fluorescence. 

 Warmed with excess of moist solid potash it becomes 

 garnet-red in color and gives off an odor resembling that 

 of the d i hy d ropy r id i nes. It thus behaves the same as the 

 pyridine iodomcthylates. 



On oxidation with potassium permanganate it yields an 

 acid which melts at 2'29-230, and Ix'gins to sublime at 

 I-)'* . It presents all the characteristics of nicotinic acid, 

 C 6 H 5 NO 2 , which is formed a6 the result of oxidation of 

 nicotine. With hydrochloric acid it forms the compound, 

 CjH 5 NO 2 .HCl. With copper acetate it forms a salt ; this, 

 distilled with lime, yields a substance which on boiling 

 with platinum chloride and water forms the compound 

 (CgHgNd^Ptdg. This same substance forms an iodo- 

 methylate, which in alcoholic solution gives, on addition of 

 potash, the characteristic reaction of pyridiue bases. 



The base, C 8 H U N, therefore yields pyridine and nico- 

 tinic acid. 



A BASE, CJI^N, was obtained by GAUTIER and ETARD 



(1881) from the ehloroformic extracts (see method, pn^e 164) 

 from putrefying mackerel, as well as from the decomposing 



