716 REPORT—1899. 
the fine powder of the copper salt and heating up to about 100°C. As this method 
was found to produce acet-metaxylene, it was abandoned. i 
Weighed quantities of the salt were then exposed in shallow platinum trays to 
the vapour of the chloride. After trying several temperatures with varying 
results it was found that an evident definite reaction took place when the vapour 
of the chloride was simply carried over the copper salt by a stream of well-dried 
CO, at the temperature 12°-16° C. Under these circumstances the copper sulphate 
changed colour from almost white to deep chocolate brown, and hydrogen chloride 
was evolved. Analyses indicate this product to be a copper sulphate mono-acetate. 
On heating the tube containing the tray with salt to about 110° C. the com- 
pound evidently decomposed. It became quite white, acetic anhydride was given 
off, and the residue in the tray was pure CuSO,,. 
There was distinct evidence that at about 60°-70° C. an intermediate com- 
pound was formed from the action of the excess of chloride on the acetate first 
formed. This appeared to be a compound of the anhydride with the CuSQ,. 
Searcely a trace of chlorine was retained by the copper salt. 
Benzoylic chloride appeared to behave in a perfectly similar manner. The 
figures obtained are not very close to theory, but scarcely leave any doubt about 
the composition of the products and the analogy with the acetylic compound. 
In one experiment the copper salt absorbed 20°16 per cent. of acetyl. If the 
reaction proceeded according to CuSO,H,O + CH,COC! = HCl + CuSO,CH,COOH, 
the gain in weight should be 23°72 per cent. In another experiment 48°28 per 
cent. of acetic anhydride was contained. On the assumption that the reaction 
CuSO,CH,COOH + CH,COCI = HCl + CuSO,CH,COOOC CH, took place the gain 
in weight should be 47°45 per cent. Some similar results were obtained with 
benzoylic chloride. 
The experiments are being continued. 
12. The Reaction between Potassium Cyanide and 1:3 Dinitro-benzene. 
By Professor W. R. E. Hopexrnson and Lieutenant W. H. WEBLEY- 
Horr, #.A. 
In the ‘ Berichte ’ for 1884 is an abstract 1 of a communication by Lobry de 
Bruyn on the action of alkaline cyanide on 1:3-dinitro-benzene. The result of 
this action is stated to be an oxyethyl-nitro-benzonitrile, 1:2:6. Beilstein refers 
to this abstract in the ‘ Handbuch.’ 
The reaction has been tried with a slight modification. In the abstract above 
cited an alcoholic solution of the dinitro-benzene was treated with the potassium 
cyanide dissolved in some water. We have employed the purest potassium 
cyanide obtainable, and as nearly absolute alcohol as ordinarily possible. 
On digesting for a little time (forty to sixty minutes) on a water-bath the 
purple-red coloration (loc. cit.) was observed, and the final change to a dirty 
brown. On cooling a considerable crystallisation took place. The solid was sepa- 
rated from the excess of alcohol, and was found to dissolve for the most part in 
hot water. A small amount of black amorphous substance remained insoluble. 
On acidifying the solution a brown substance precipitated. It was washed with 
very dilute acid (H,SO,) and then dissolved in hot alcohol, from which crystals 
deposited on cooling and also on evaporation. 
On analysis (nitrogen) figures have been obtained, pointing distinctly to a 
compound C,H,NO,CN. Considerably more than 80 per cent. of the dinitro- 
benzene employed seems to have been thus converted. 
The same body has been obtained with dry methylic alcohol and also with 
normal propylic alcohol as solvents for the dinitro-benzene. 
With acetone and paraldehyde as solvents, beyond the formation of a smalt 
amount of very intense colouring matter, very little action seems to have taken 
1 Rec. Trav. Chim. ii. 205-235. 
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