266 REPORT—1896. 
which gradually changes on keeping ; but in this case the change takes 
place much more slowly, being incomplete at the end of five or six days. 
The changes which apparently take place are those indicated by the 
following symbols : 
s s 
ep OEt OEt OEt 
2 > 
S 
It is difficult to believe that hydrolysis and resulphonation go on in 
a stiff, pasty mass at ordinary temperatures, and the transformation would 
seem to be more probably the result of direct isomeric change ; but much 
must be done before this-question can be finally discussed. 
a-Methoxy- and a-ethoxynaphthalene do not show any similar be- 
haviour, and yield only the 1 : 4 acid, which apparently does not undergo 
change when heated. Mr. Shelton, who has examined the acids at my 
request, has prepared from them a series of crystallised derivatives, viz.— 
MP. M.P. 
C,, H, (OMe.) SO, Cl. 97° C,,H,(OEt.)SO,Cl. 102° 
SO,NH, 225° SO,NH, 167° 
SO,NH.Ph, 136° SO,NH.Ph. 176° 
The behaviour of 3-methoxy- and ethoxynaphthalene towards bromine 
is normal, products being obtained which correspond to those prepared 
from }-naphthol ; the investigation of the crystallographic relationship of 
these promises to afford interesting results, and is being carried on by Mr. 
Bennett. 
It was shown by Mr. Rossiter and the writer that nitro-/-naphthol 
may be prepared directly from (3-naphthol by means of nitrogen peroxide ; 
it appears that it may equally well be obtained by means of nitric acid. ‘I'he 
acid is carefully added toa very cold solution of the naphthol in acetic acid, 
and the solution is subsequently mixed with an excess of sodium sulphite. 
But the yield is poor, seldom exceeding 40 per cent. of the theoretical 
amount. <A better result is obtained by very carefully nitrating chloro- or 
bromonaphthol and reducing with sulphite. 
The nitro-bromo-keto-naphthalene formed on nitrating dibromo-/- 
naphthol is readily and completely reduced by sodium sulphite, thus 
making it possible to obtain a practically theoretical yield of nitro-bromo- 
naphthol : 
Br Br.NO, NO, 
OH 0) On 
a 
But in many other cases the sulphite is not a sufficiently strong agent 
