BALSAMUM PERITV^IANUM. 209 



in the latter which may be considerably purified by charcoal, reddens 

 litmus, and is abundantly precipitated by an alcoholic solution of neutral 

 acetate of lead. Kachler (1869) by melting this resin with potash 

 obtained about f of its weight of proto-catechuic acid.^ By destructive 

 distillation, it furnishes benzoic acid, styrol, C*ff, and toluol, (7H^. 



As to the solution obtained with bisulphide of carbon, it forms, after 

 the bisulphide has evaporated, a brownish aromatic liquid of about 

 11 sp. gr., termed CinnameXn. This substance may also be obtained 

 by distillation, yet less easily, on account of its very high boiling point, 

 about 300° C. 



Cinnamein, CP^ET^O", is resolved by concentrated caustic lye into 

 benzylic alcohol, C^W*0-, and cinnamic acid, C®H*0', whence it follows 

 that cinnamein is Benzylic Cinnamate. This is, according to Kraut 

 (1858, 1869, 1870) and to Kachler (1869, 1870), the chief constituent of 

 the balsam. The former chemist obtained from it nearly 60 per cent, 

 cinnamein. Kachler assigns to the balsam the following composition : 

 46 per cent, of cinnamic acid, 32 of resin, 20 of benzylic alcohol. These 

 latter figures however are not quite consistent : 46 parts of cinnamic 

 acid (molecular weight = 148) would answer to 73 parts of benzj'lic 

 cinnamate ; and 20 parts of benzylic alcohol require on the other hand 

 only (mol. weight = 108) 27'4 parts of cinnamic acid in order to fonn 

 benzylic cinnamate (mol. =: 238). 



Benzylic cinnamate, prepared as above stated, is a thick liquid, 

 miscible both with ether or alcohol, not concreting at — 12° C, boiling 

 at 305° C, 3'et under ordinary circumstances not without decomposition. 

 By exposure to air, it slowly acquires an acid reaction ; by prolonged 

 action of potash, especially in an alcoholic solution, toluol is also formed. 

 In this process, cinnamate of potassium finally forms a crystalline mass, 

 while an oily mixture of benzylic alcohol and toluol, the so-called 

 ' Peruvin" constitutes the liquid part of the whole. 



Grimaux (1868) has artificially prepared benzylic cinnamate by 

 heating an alkaline cinnamate with benzylic chloride. Thus obtained, 

 that substance forms crystals, which melt at 39° C, and boil at 225 to 

 235° C. They consequently differ much from cinnamein. 



Delafontaine (1868) is of the opinion, that cinnamein contains besides 

 benzylic cinnamate, cinnamylic cinnamate, C^IP^O*, the same substance 

 as described under the name of styracin in the article Styrax liquida. 

 He states that he obtained benzylic and cinnamylic alcohol when he 

 decomposed cinnamein by an alkali. The two alcohols however were 

 separated only by fractional distillation. 



From the preceding investigations it must be concluded, that the 

 bark of the tree contains resin and probably benzylic cinnamate. The 

 latter is no doubt altered by the process of collecting the balsam, which 

 is followed on the Balsam Coast. To this are probably due the free 

 acids in the balsam and its dark colour. 



Another point of considerable interest is the fact, that the tree exudes 

 a gum-resin, containing according to Attfield 77'4 per cent, of resin,^ 

 which is non-aromatic and devoid of cinnamic acid, and therefore 

 entirely distinct from balsam of Peru. The leaves of the tree contain 

 a fragrant oil. 



Numerous resins as benzoin, guaiacum, other substances are capable of aflFording 

 dragon's blood, myrrh, etc., and many the same acid. 



- Pharm. Joum. v. (1864) 248. 



