OF ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS. 35 



of which was saponified, there was formed principally 

 ethyl-succinic ester. If aromatic ester acids were 

 electrolyzed with potassium acetate a similar synthesis 

 occurred. 



By this method a-niethyl-hydrocinnamic ester, 



C 6 H 6 - CH 2 - CH - COOC 3 H 6 , 



CH 



was prepared from potassium-ethyl benzyl-malonate and 

 potassium acetate. Dibenzyl-succinic ester is formed 

 at the same time, according to the reaction of 

 C. Brown : 



C 6 H B - CH 2 - CH - COOC 2 H 6 

 C 6 H 5 - CH, - CH - COOC 2 H 6 . 

 This reaction does not take place if potassium 

 acetate is not present. 



If the deportment of the alkali salts of the mono- 

 basic oxyacids upon electrolysis is analogous to that of 

 sodium acetate the chief products to be expected are 

 symmetrical glycols: 



2C n H ro (OH)COO - = C M H W (OH), + 2CO,. 

 According to Walker's 1 experiments this is not 

 generally the case. From the potassium salt of 

 mandelic acid the expected product, i.e., a mixture 

 of hydrobenzoin and isohydrobenzo'in, is formed only in 

 small quantities; benzaldehyde, however, is formed 

 in larger quantities. 



1 Journ. Chem. Soc., 45, 1278, 



