TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 523 
The mechanism of the reaction by which the substance is formed (compare 
J.N. Collie, ‘Trans. Chem, Soc.,’ 77,971) would seem to be that three molecules of 
the acid chloride first condense with evolution of two molecules of hydrogen 
chloride, yielding the chloride of an ay-diketonic acid in accordance with the fol- 
lowing scheme: 
C,H,.CH,.COCI + C,H,.CH,.C0.Cl + 0,H,.CH,.COCl> 
C,H,.CH,.CO.CH.CO.CH.CO.C1 
| 
C,H; C,H; 
This hypothetical chloride then undergoes total or partial conversion into an 
enolic form, from which, by subsequent loss of hydrogen chloride, in which the 
hydroxyl group is involved, the closed pyronone ring is formed : 
C,H; C,H; GEOR, 
| 
->C,H,.CH,.C=C—CO—CH~0,H,.CH,.C=C—CO—CH 
| | | | 
OH C1CO = 0 
Since this pyronone derivative differs from those previously studied, in that it 
gives an oxime as well as a monobenzoyl derivative, it must be regarded as 
tautomeric in that it can assume the above ketonic form as well as the following 
enolic or hydroxylactonic constitution : 
OH 
| 
0,H,—0—C=C'0,H, 
I | 
C,H,.CH,—C—O—CO 
The latter formula naturally gives rise to the acidic derivatives. ‘The remark- 
able power which the carbonyl group in the closed ring possesses of reacting with 
hydroxylamine must be attributed to the multiplication of unsaturated groups in 
the molecule—namely, to the presence of two phenyl groups and two double bonds 
in the closed chain. 
As was to be expected from the known behaviour of pyrone or pyronone 
compounds, the action of ammonia gives benzyldiphenyldihydroxypyridine : 
OH 
| 
C,H,.C—O=C.0,H, 
I | 
C,H,.CH,.C_N=C.OH 
Lastly, it may be mentioned that the author has made a remarkable observa- 
tion upon the interaction of isobutyric chloride with tertiary amines; in this 
reaction an extremely volatile substance crystallising in colourless needles and 
having an odour of menthol and camphor is obtained. This product is formed by 
the condensation of only two molecules of the acid chloride, and is not a pyronone 
derivative but a diketone ; it is in all probability a tetramethylene derivative, from 
which the author hopes to prepare the parent hydrocarbon. 
8. Sur les Manganates et les Permanganates. Par Dr. A. Erarp. 
Le permanganate de potassium est parfaitement connu, mais le manganate vert 
est, je crois, considéré comme une masse fondue trés riche en potasse. Cependant, 
Mitscherlich a décrit et mesuré des cristaux de MnO*K?. Il ne semble pas qu’on 
les ait préparés depuis. Mon but n’est pas de signaler ce sel, connuautrefois, mais 
de décrire ses relations avec le permanganate. Quand du permanganate cristallisé 
