312 MESSRS. E. FEANKLAND AND B. F. DUPPA'S 



It is therefore evident that this gas results from the decomposition of ethyl 

 according to the following equation, 



Ethyl. Ethylic hydride. Ethylene, 



and that for the attainment of the desired result of the reaction it is best to prevent 

 this secondary decomposition as much as possible. This we succeeded in doing by pre- 

 venting the temperature from rising beyond 60° C. or 70° C, until the operation was con- 

 siderably advanced. Afterwards it was necessary to heat to 100° C. to complete the 

 reaction. 



The mixture generally continues fluid, but assumes a light straw-colour and a thick 

 oily consistency. On being heated to 130° C. in a retort, no distillate passes over. If, 

 after cooling, its own volume of water be very gradually added, torrents of ethylic 

 hydride are evolved, and, on subsequent distillation in a water-bath, weak alcohol con- 

 taining an ethereal oil in solution passes over ; and a further quantity of the oil may be 

 obtained by adding water to the residue in the retort, and continuing the distillation on 

 a sand-bath. By repeated rectification the alcohol can be approximately separated from 

 the water and oil, whilst the latter may then be removed by a separator. 



The oily product so obtained was submitted to rectification, when its boiling-point 

 rapidly rose to 176°, at which temperature the whole of the remaining and very large 

 proportion of the liquid distilled over. 



The composition of this liquid is determined by the following analyses : — 



I. "2872 grm. gave '6261 grm. carbonic anhydride and "2710 grm. water. 

 II. '3009 grm. gave '6577 grm. carbonic anhydride and "2767 grm. water. 



III. -2620 grm. gave '5750 grm. carbonic anhydride and "2355 grm. water. 



IV. '3223 grm. gave '7070 grm. carbonic anhydride and '2917 grm. water. 



These numbers coincide closely vdth those calculated from the formula 



as is seen from the following comparison of experimental with calculated numbers : — 



I. II. in. IV. Mean. 



59-45 59-61 59-84 59-83 59-68 

 10-47 10-21 10-00 10-06 10-18 



30-14 



160 100-00 100-00 



We shall prove below that this body is the ethylic ether of an acid possessing the 

 same composition as the leucic acid obtained by Stkecker* in acting on leucin with 

 nitrous acid. The two acids are probably isomeric ; and we therefore prefer to call the 

 one prepared synthetically diethoxalic acid, and the ether above analyzed ethylic 



* Ann. der Chem. und Pharm. Bd. Ixviii. S. 54. 



