BENZYLIC ALDEHYDE. 319 



heating di- or trichlorbenzal chloride (p. 275) with 

 water at 200-260. Both crystallize in colorless nee- 

 dles and are volatile with water-vapor. The former 

 fuses at 68, the latter at 110-111. 



Metanitrobenzylic aldehyde, C 6 H 4 (^0 2 ).CHO. Is 

 produced by dropping oil of bitter almonds into cold, 

 very concentrated nitric acid, or a mixture of nitric and 

 sulphuric acids. Colorless, shiny needles, that fuse at 

 about 50. But slightly soluble in cold water, more 

 easily soluble in hot water. 



Sulphobenzylic aldehyde (Sulphobenzene), C 7 H 6 S = 

 C 6 H 5 .CHS, is produced by heating benzal chloride with 

 an alcoholic solution of potassium sulphydrate. Crys- 

 tallizes from alcohol in colorless laminse ; from ether in 

 transparent four-sided prisms. Fusing point, 68-70. 

 Is decomposed at a high temperature, yielding stilbene 

 (p. 282) and other products. 



Hydrobenzamide, C 21 H' 8 K 2 - (C 6 H 5 .CH)^ 2 , is pro- 

 duced by continued action of concentrated aqueous 

 ammonia on oil of bitter almonds or benzal chloride. 

 Colorless, inodorous and tasteless octahedral crystals ; 

 insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol; fusing point, 

 110. When boiled with water or alcohol it is decom- 

 posed, yielding ammonia and oil of bitter almonds. 



Amarin, C 21 H 18 K 2 , a base isomeric with hydroben- 

 zamide, is produced by conducting ammonia into an 

 alcoholic solution of benzylic aldehyde; further by 

 heating hydrobenzamide for several hours at 130 ; and 

 by boiling it with potassa-ley. Crystallizes from alcohol 

 in colorless, lustrous prisms, that fuse at 100. Insolu- 

 ble in water. Poisonous. Forms very difficultly solu- 

 ble salts with acids. 



Lophin, C 21 !! 18 ]^ 2 , is produced when amarin or hy- 

 drobenzamide are distilled, and by heating di- and tri- 

 benzylamine (p. 278). Long, colorless needles, that fuse 

 at 270, are insoluble in water and difficultly soluble 



