146 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



Amygdaliu is also decomposed hydrolytically when boiled with alkalis 

 or strong mineral acids, yielding amygdalinic acid and ammonia. 



C,„H,-0„N + 2H,0 = C„„H,sO„ + NH, 

 Amygdaliu. Amygdalinic acid. Ammonia. 



Amygdalinic acid, on further treatment with hot, dilute, mineral acid^j 

 yields one molecule of maudelic acid and two molecules of dextrose. 



C,„H,30„ + 2H,0 = CHA . + 2C,H,,(), 

 Amygdalinic acid. Mandelic acid. Dextrose, 



From these data it is clear tliat aniygdalin is probably the maltose 

 btlier of bcnzaldehydecyanohydrin, and that its constitution must be 

 represented by the following formula : — 



/C"\ .0 ± C„H,,0„ 



CH C — CH< 



CH CH 



\ch/ . ; 



Bcnzaldehydecyanohydrin Jlaltosc 



residue. re«iduc. 



Manddic N'drUn Glncosidc. — This substance is the glucusidic hydru- 

 lytic product obtained by Fischer,' by tlie action of the enzyme maltase 

 of yea.st on amygdalin, and has the formula C|,H|;0,iN. Having regard 

 to its method of formation and to the fact that on further treatment with 

 the enzyme emulsin or with hot, dilute, mineral acids it is hydrolysed, 

 yielding one molecule eacli of prussic acid, bcnzaldehyde, and dextrose — 



C,,H,;0,N + H.O = HCN + C,lI,CHO + C,U,,0, 

 Mandelic nitrilc Prussic Bcnzaldehyde, Dextrose, 



glucosidc. acid. 



. It must be a ^ dextrose other of benzaldehydecyanohydrin, and be 



represented by the following formula : — 



CH C — CH< 



'C 



CH CH 



\ch/ 



Bcnzaldehydecyanohydrin Dextrose, 



residue. residue. 



^aud)uni<jrin. 



This glucoside Avas isolated from the leaves of the common elder 

 [Samhucus nigra) by Bourquelot and Danjou,- although Guignard had 

 almost simultaneously recorded the presence in the leaves of a substance 

 which underwent hydrolysis, yielding prussic acid and bcnzaldehyde. '' It 

 is isomeric with Fischer's mandelic nitrile glucoside, but differs from it in 

 melting-point and in exhibiting a much higher hevorotation. 



rridauraain. 



This substance was obtained for the firot time in a pure state from 

 the leaves of the common laurel (Primus Laurocerasus) by Herissey,' 



I Ber., 1894, 27, 2989; 1895, 28, 1809. •' Conqjt. Bend., 1905, 141, 598. 



» /&!</., 1905, 141, 23G. ' Ihid., 1905, 141, 959. 



