OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS. 55 



Benzile. The aromatic di-ketone benzile, C,H 6 CO. 

 CO.C 6 H 5 , gives peculiar results. On reduction in an 

 alkaline alcoholic solution a whole series of bodies is 

 formed, i.e., benzoic acid, benzilic acid, tetraphenyl- 

 erythrite, C a8 H, 6 O 4 = 



C.H^HOH 

 C e H 5 .COH 

 C 6 H,COH 

 C.H..CHOH, 



and a substance, C, 8 H a6 O s , containing one less atom 

 of oxygen, which has probably the constitution 



C.H .(j;OH 



C,H 6 .CH 



C 8 H 5 .CHOH. 



Tetraphenyl-erythrite is also formed by the direct 

 reduction of benzoin. 

 Anthraquinone, 



H / /CO \C H 

 4 ^ 6 *' 



According to Weizmann, 1 this compound when in 

 sulphuric acid solution is converted by electrolytic 

 oxidation into monoxy-, dioxy-, and trioxy-anthra- 



1 French Pat. 265292. 



