324 ANISIC ALDEHYDE, ETC. 



Anisic aldehyde (Methyl paraoxybenzy lie aldehyde), 

 C 8 H 8 2 = C 6 H 4 -j pTTQ Is produced by heating oil of 



anise, oil of fenchel, oil of sternanis, or oil of esdragon 

 (the volatile oils from the seeds of Pimpinella anisum, 

 Anethum foeniculum, lllicium anisatum, and the green 

 portions of Artemisia dracunculus) with dilute nitric 

 acid, or potassium bichromate and dilute sulphuric 

 acid, a substance called anethol, C 10 H 12 0, which is con- 

 tained in these oils, being oxidized in this process. 

 The aldehyde separates as an oil, and is purified by 

 shaking with alkaline bisulphites, and decomposing 

 the crystalline compound thus formed by sodium car- 

 bonate. Colorless oil, of a spicy odor, boiling at 248; 

 of specific gravity 1.12. 



Dioxybenzylic aldehyde (Protocatechuic alde- 

 hyde), C 7 H 6 3 = C 6 H 3 1 Sf Is obtained by boiling 



dichlorpiperonal (see Piperonal) with water; and to- 

 gether with carbon, by heating piperonal with dilute 

 hydrochloric acid at 200. Flat, lustrous crystals. 

 Fusing point, 150. Easily soluble in water. The 

 aqueous solution is colored deep green by iron chloride. 



Methylene-dioxybenzylic aldehyde (Pipero- 

 nal), C 8 H 6 3 = C 6 H 3 \ 0> CH2 Is produced by distill- 

 (CHO. 



ing a dilute solution of one part potassium piperate 

 with two parts potassium hy permanganate. Long, lus- 

 trous, colorless crystals, of a very pleasant odor; fusing 

 point, 37; boiling point, 263; difficultly soluble in 

 cold water, more easily in hot water, very easily soluble 

 in alcohol. Combines with alkaline bisulphites. Nas- 

 cent hydrogen converts it into piper onyl alcohol, C 8 H 8 3 , 

 and two isomeric compounds, corresponding to hydro- 

 benzoin (p. 320). When heated with three molecules 

 phosphorus chloride it yields a liquid body, dichlorpipe- 

 ronal chloride, C 8 H 4 C1 4 2 , which, with cold water, yields 

 dichlorpiperonal, C 8 H 4 CP0 3 , and hydrochloric acid, and 



