44 



MESSES. E. FEANKLAND AND B. E. DUPPA'S 



The production of ethylic ethacetone carbonate by the action of sodium and ethyl 

 iodide upon acetic ether is explained in the two following equations*: 



+Na, = 2Cj^^ +2C2H5OH+H2 



Q Alcohol. 



OCH, 



Acetic ether. 



Na 



O 

 OC,H, 



Ethylic sodaee- 

 tone carbonate. 



o 



+C,H,I=C, 



H 



+ NaI. 



O 

 OC2H, 



Ethylic sodace- 

 tone carbonate. 



Ethylic ethace- 

 tone carbonate. 



Ethylic ethacetone carbonate is a colourless and transparent liquid, possessing a very 

 fragrant odour and an aromatic taste. It is nearly insoluble in water, but miscible in 

 all proportions with alcohol and ether. Its density in the liquid condition is •9834 at 

 16° C. It boils at 195° C, and distils without decomposition. A determination of its 

 vapour-density gave the following data : — 



Weight of ethylic-ethacetone carbonate '1993 grm. 



Observed volume of vapour 54"09 cub. centims. 



Height of barometer 763-5 millims. 



Difference of heights of mercury inside and outside tube . 76-0 millims. 

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



* Whilst engaged in these experiments we became aware, through the ' Jahresbericht der Chemie,' that this 

 compound, and the corresponding one made with iodide of methyl mentioned below, had already been studied 

 by Geitther, who also obtained ethylic sodacetone carbonate, which he analyzed and designated by the name 

 Di-methylene-carbon-ethylene-sodic ether, assigning to it the formula (C=12, 0=8), 



CH„CO,|NaO 

 CH„C0JH0,C,H,. 



From this body he produced ethylic ethacetone carbonate (Di-methylene-carbon-ethylene ether) by the action 

 of ethyl iodide, and also ethylic metJiacetone carlunaie {Di-methyltne-carhon-meihylene ether) by the action of 

 methyl iodide. Our analytical results and observations of the physical properties of these two bodies agree 

 completely with those assigned to them by Geuther, whose isolation of the sodium-compound, attended as it is 

 with great difficulties, serves to impart a completeness to the reaction which it would otherwise have lacked. 



