T. S. Hunt on the Compound Ammonias. 211 
some other amids, was applicable to the organic alkaloids, ‘and 
that the action of nitric oxyd upon a dilute acid solution ‘of 
nitrate of aniline yields nitrogen gas and phenol. Mr. Hofmann 
refers to my statement, but adds that in repeating my experiment 
the aniline was transformed into’a brown mass containing a crys- 
talline matter which was nitric phenol. He probably obtained 
the binitric species whichis the first product of the action o 
nitric acid upon phenol, and which as described in my paper I 
actually prepared from the phenol thus obtained, by treating it 
‘ith strong nitric acid, in the process for -preparing the nitro- 
Picric acid. If, keeping in mind the great readiness with which 
phenol is attacked by nitric acid, he will take the trouble to re- 
peat the experiment with a dilute solution of the salt, avoidinga 
large excess of nitric acid, he will not find it,difficult to obtain 
the characteristic oily product which I have described, and which 
1s not easily confounded with nitrophenesic acid. 
_ By the use of nitrite of silver in accordance with my sugges- 
tion, for which he has found even nitrite of potash may be sub- 
stituted, Mr. Hofmann was more successful. In distilling hydro- 
chlorate of ethammiue with a solution of nitrite of potash, nitro- 
gen and nitrous ether were evolved, with a liquid containing 
apparently traces of alcohol and some drops of an oily matter. 
Similar results were obtained with butylamine, propylamine and 
amylamine. ‘These nitrous ethers, as shown by M. 
A curious subject of inquiry presents itself in regard to those 
bases which contain two and three equivalents of the alcoholic 
elements. If the decomposition were to take place in accordance 
With the formula above given, nitrate of biethylamine would 
yield C.:H1.0, which is the ether of alcohol, or its isomere bu- 
tyric alcohol, and triethylamine, C«H1 +0, which is the formula of 
caproic alcohol. ‘The decomposition of all the complex alkaloids 
y this reaction will be of great interest. ca 
Montreal, C. E., Nov. 10th, 1851. 
* This Journal, vol. iv, p. 850. 
