42 



From the mode of its formation, and its analogy with other similar bodies described 

 below, this ethereal liquid must be regarded as a ketone, and we propose for it the name di- 

 ethylated acetone. Its rational formula and its relations to acetone may be thus expressed : 



fCMeO fCMeO 



(,C H3 (C Et2 H 



{; 



Acetone. Diethylated acetone. 



Diethylated acetone is produced from ethylic diethacetone carbonate by the action of 

 alcoholic potash according to the following equation : 



C4 



H3 



O (O 



(C2H5)2+2KHO=C<^OK + C2H50H+C3 



O 10 K 



'2H5 



Alcohol. 



lOCH, 



■r,.,_ T~"T>'^T r Diethylated 



Ethyhc diethacetone acetone, 



carbonato. 



Diethylated acetone is a colourless, transparent and mobile liquid, possessing a pene- 

 trating odour of camphor, and the burning and bitter after-taste of the same substance. 

 It is very slightly soluble in water, but miscible in all proportions with alcohol or ether. 

 Its specific gravity is -8171 at 22° C. It boils at 137°-5 to 139° C. A determination of 

 its vapour-density by Gay Lussac's method gave the following data: — 



Weight of diethylated acetone -1930 grm. 



Observed volume of vapour 62-0 cub. centims. 



Temperature of bath 161° C. 



Height of barometer 773 millims. 



Difference of heights of mercury inside and outside tube . . 39-5 millims. 



Height of spermaceti column reduced to millims. of mercury 15-7 millims. 



From these numbers the density was calculated to be 3*86 ; the formula C; H14 O 

 requires the number 3-93. Diethylated acetone does not oxidize in the air, neither does 

 it reduce ammoniacal solution of silver nitrate when boiled with it. Mixed with concen- 

 trated solution of sodium bisulphite, it forms an oily compound which scarcely exhibits 

 signs of crystallization at 0° C. It suffers no alteration by prolonged boiling with alco- 

 holic potash. It is isomeric with butyrone, with a ketone obtained by Fittig * in the 



* Ann. der Ch. und Pharm. Bd. cxvii. p. 68. 



