182 Dr Latham, On the Conversion of [Feb. 6, 



Similarly, methene cyanhydrin, instead of forming glycocine, 

 would be converted into glycollic acid. 



C McN +2H =° = CH 'CoH +NH ' 



methene cyanhydrin glycollic acid 



the glycollic acid being then converted by oxidation either into 

 formic acid, oxalic acid, or carbonic acid. 



CH2 {cOOH + = 2H - C00H 

 glycollic acid formic acid 



CH 2 |^ 0H + 2 = 2 O 2 (OH) 2 + h 2 

 glycollic acid oxalic acid 



or 



CH 2 | C00H + 3 = 2C0 2 + 2H 2 



The next question for consideration is what change takes place 

 when the carbamate is brought in contact with some other body 

 instead of NH 3 . Taking ethidene cyanamide, for instance, the 

 corresponding alcohol is liberated and a cyanide formed — 



~C *< =ch,.ho + c,hX n HCONH - 



methyl urethane ethidene cyan- cyanide 



amide 



or = CH 3 . HO + C 2 H 3 (NH 2 ) ^^^ * 



methyl alcohol cyanide 



which by hydration (? with acids or alkalis) gives the formula for 

 asparagine — 



C^NEQ^W) + 2H s O = C a H,(NH s ){™^ + ^ 



asparagine 



The other urethanes would, with ethidene cyanamide, present 

 similar formulas for conversion into asparagine. 



* Several compounds, when converted into cyanides and thence into acids, 

 undergo molecular transposition, e.g. allyl iodide, and ethidene dibromide. See 

 Fownes, pp. 307, 347. 



