270 REPORT — 1894. 



Following the directions given by Cosiner and by Claus and Phillipson, 

 monobrom /j-acetnaphthalide was prepared by mixing bromine with 

 j3-acetnaphthalide dissolved in acetic acid ; although the conditions were 

 greatly varied, the amounts of pure product obtained were in all cases very 

 unsatisfactory, rarely exceeding 25 per cent. The main product was a 

 crystalline substance, more soluble in alcohol than monobromo-/>acetnaph- 

 thalide, but almost insoluble in acetic acid, ethylic acetate, chloroform, 

 xylene and water. When digested with a weak solution of caustic soda 

 this substance is converted into monobromo-/3-acetnaphthalide, and the 

 same effect is produced by digesting it with a solution of either sulphurous 

 acid or potassium iodide. It appears to be probable that this substance 

 contains the elements of a molecule of bromo-/3-acetnaphthalide and a 

 molecule of bromine ; such a compound would contain 56*6 per cent, of 

 bromine, The highest amount found was 52 per cent. ; but as the substance 

 undergoes decomposition when recrystallised from alcohol, it cannot be 

 obtained pure. It is not produced by brominating bromo-/3-acetnaphtha- 

 lide, and therefore is probably formed together with it, being perhaps an 

 addition compound, such as is represented by the formula 



By digesting the crude product of the action of a single molecular 

 proportion of bromine on one of /3-acetnaphthalide with a weak solution of 

 caustic soda, and then recrystallising from spirit, as much as 75 per cent. 

 of the theoretical yield of bromo-/3-acetnaphthalide can be obtained. 



Hule expressive of the Formation of Sulphonic Acids. — Dressel and 

 Kothe, in a recent most interesting paper,' have taken exception to the 

 'rule' suggested by Dr. Wynne and the writer, referred to in previous 

 reports, that there is an ' invincible objection ' on the pai't of two sulphonic 

 groups to remain in either contiguous, or para-, or peri-positions ; they have 

 described a tri- and a tetra-sulphonic acid, each containing two sulphonic 

 radicles in contiguous /3 /3 positions. We shall have occasion to discuss 

 their results when the investigation of the changes attending sulphona- 

 tion — the most difficult and complex chapter of the subject — is somewhat 

 further advanced. It is only necessary to say that the ' rule ' was merely 

 an expression of the results up to that time obtained, and was never 

 intended as a final statement. 



The Investigation of the Cave at UlboUon. — Report of the Committee, 

 consisting of Mr. R. H. Tiddeman (Chairman), Rev. Edwarh 

 JoNKS (Secretary), Sir John Evans, Dr. J. G. Garson, Mr. W. 

 Pengelly, and Mr. J. J. Wilkinson, appointed to as -ertain whether 

 the Remains of Palceolitldc Man occur in the Lower Cate Earth. 



The work of excavation in this cave has now ceased. Since our last 

 report the debris from the cave mouth has been cleared away, and in some 

 material that was taken from the upper Neolithic layer a flint flake was 



' Serichte, 1894, 27, 1193-1210. 



