OF ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS. 43 



1 . Ethane-tetracarboxylic ester from sodium-diethyl- 

 ma Ionic ester. 



2. Ethane-hexacarboxylic ester from sodium-met hane- 

 tricarboxylic ester. 



3. Tetracetyl-ethane from acetyl-acetone. 



4. A thick oil which contained a small quantity of 

 diacetyl-succinic ester from aceto-acetic ester. 



The conclusion reached by Mulliken, that in the 

 electrolysis of certain weak organic acids a portion of 

 the anions unite in pairs without undergoing decom- 

 position, was closely examined by Weems as to its 

 general applicability and as to the exact nature of the 

 chemical changes which take place. All direct 

 attempts to oxidize malonic ester with hydrogen per- 

 oxide, potassium permanganate, and chromic acid, and 

 to produce an effect similar to that caused by the 

 current, were without success. 



Weems, on electrolyzing the sodium salt of methyl- 

 malonic ester in alcoholic solution, obtained dimethyl- 

 ethane-tetracarboxylic ester; ethyl-malonic ester yielded 

 diethyl-ethane-tetracarboxylic ester; and aceto-acetic 

 ester was changed to diacetyl-succinic ester. 



In the electrolysis of cyan-acetic ester the formation 

 of dicyan-succinic ester could not be observed; like- 

 wise a union of the anions of benzyl-malonic ester, 

 acetyl-malonic ester, and acetyl-dicarboxylic ester did 

 not take place. Electrolysis of acid amides in the 



