328 Cellulose 



unsaturated linking. At the same time, the opening up of the 

 ring at this point determines (as with chlorine) the removal of 

 the whole of the lignone from the cellulose complex. In this 

 case the /3-cellulose is partly removed, also in combination with 

 the lignone, as in the bisulphite process. Further oxidation of 

 these groupings at once begins. The formation of acetic acid 

 indicates the rupture of the attachment between the cydo- 

 hexenone and the pyrone groups. The former group probably 

 gives acids of a ketonic character, accounting for the powerful 

 reducing properties of the water digest. The pyrone grouping 

 in its oxygen atom and carbonyl group presents to ozone two 

 points of attack. Unstable peroxides will probably be formed, 

 the decomposition of which will further the process of oxidation. 

 The fact that only 30 p.ct. of the methoxyl constituent is 

 found in the wood residue points to the almost complete de- 

 struction of this grouping, and by the cleavage of such a pyrone 

 ring formic acid could easily be produced. 



The results, so far as they carry, therefore, are fully in 

 agreement with the formulation of the lignocellulose complex 

 proposed by Cross and Bevan. On the other hand, they do 

 not lend support to the alternative view of Klason (' Beitrage 

 zur Kentniss der chemischen Zusammensetzung des Fichten- 

 holzes,' Berlin, 1911), that the ' lignin ' (of coniferous woods) is 

 largely of an aromatic nature, being based on coniferyl alcohol 

 (I.) and of a condensed anhydride of hydroxyconiferyl alcohol 

 or allied compound. 



If this were the case, the action of ozone should yield 

 vanillin (II.) in considerable quantity, thus: 



CH:CH-CH 2 -OH CHO 



by0 3 C0 2 H 



I JOMe I JOMe CH 2 -OH 



OH OH 



(I.) (II.) 



