October 1, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



321 



pendent on its location in the moleoule, but inde- 

 pendent of tlie presence of other nitrate radicles. 



Tetra methyl quinolines: L. A. Mikeska and 

 E. Q. Adams. The dicyanines — a series of photo- 

 sensensitizing dyes extending the sensitiveness of 

 the photographic plate farther into the infra-red 

 than any other known substances — requires as in- 

 termediates the quaternary halides of 2, 4 di- 

 methylquinoliue and 2, 4, 6-trimethylquinoline. 

 These bases are made by condensing with paral- 

 dehyde and acetone — ^by a synthesis similar to 

 that of Shraup — respectively aniline and p-toluid- 

 ine. The xylidines give by this condensation 

 tetramethylquinolines, of which only one has here- 

 tofore fbeen prepared (and incorrectly named). 

 Three of the sis possible isomeric tetramethyquino- 

 lines have been prepared: 2, 4, 5, 7-; m.p. 59°; 

 2, 4, 6, 8-; m.p. 86° and 2, 4, 5, S-. The prepara- 

 tion of the others is in progress. 



Naphthalene sulphonic acids. I. Some difficultly 

 soluble salts of certain naphthalene sulphonic 

 acids: Joseph A. Ambler. The preparation and 

 properties of the alpha naphthylamine salts, and 

 of the beta naphthylamine salts of the naphtha- 

 lene alpha, beta, 1-5, 1-6, 2-6, and 2-7 sulphonic 

 acids, and of ferrous naphthalene beta sulphonate 

 are given. Crystallographic-optieal properties as 

 determined by E. T. Wherry are included. These 

 salts are all difficultly soluble in water and pos- 

 sess characteristic optical properties. 



Naphthalene sulphonic acids. II. A method for 

 the qualitative determination of some of the 

 naphthalene sulphonic acids: Joseph A. Ambler 

 and Edgar T. Wherry. It was found that the 

 properties of the salts described in the preceding 

 article can be used for a qualitative test for the 

 naphthalene alpha, beta, 1-5, 1-6, 2-6, and 2-7 

 sulphonic acids. Naphthalene beta sulphonic acid 

 is detected with ferrous chloride; the 1-5 sulphonic 

 acid, with alpha naphthylamine hydrochloride in 

 boiling water; the 2-6 sulphonic acid, with beta 

 naphthylamine hydrochloride in boiling water; the 

 alpha acid by the solubility of its beta naphthyla- 

 mine salt in hot acetone; the 1-6 and 2-7 sul- 

 phonic acids, by the optical properties of their 

 beta naphthylamine salts. 



Benzene disulfonio acid from iensene monosul- 

 fonio acid: C. E. Sbnseman. The well-dried 

 barium salt of benzene monosulfonie acid is 

 treated with sulfuric acid varying in concentration 

 from 93-98 per cent. The temiperatures for the 

 various runs are 220°, 250° and 280°. The quanti- 

 ties of acid used range from li-8 mols to one mol 



of the free monosulfonie acid. The duration of 

 the various experiments was from 8-10 hours. 

 "Vanadium pentoxide and sodium sulphate were 

 tried out as catalysts. The progress of the re- 

 action was determined in each case by removing 

 a sample at the end of each hour and analyzing 

 for the disulfonic acid. Without the use of a 

 catalyst the highest yield obtained was 93.3 per 

 cent. A yield of 98.2 per cent, was obtained when 

 sodium sulphate was used as a catalyst. 



Synthesis of s-xylidine: Herbert L. Haller 

 and Elliot Q. Adams. S-xylidine was synthesized 

 (1) from niesitylene — which was oxidized to 

 mesitylenic acid; changed to the amide; and finally 

 converted by means of Hofmann's reaction to s- 

 xylidine; (2) from m-4 xylidine by successive 

 aeetylation, nitration, saponification and deamina- 

 tion; and reduction. In the latter procedure the 

 saponification and deamination were carried out 

 in one step. Acetyl derivatives of the xylidine 

 obtained by the two methods were compared, and 

 their melting points found to be the same, 139.6°- 

 140.2° (corr.). The optical properties also, were 

 found by Dr. E. T. Wherry to be identical. 



AXkali fusions. II. The fusion of sodium ben- 

 zene m-disulphonate with sodium hydroxide for 

 the production of resorcinol: Max Phillips and 

 H. D. GiBBS. Although the process of making re- 

 sorcinol by the fusion of sodium benzene m-disul- 

 phonate with sodium hydroxide has been in use 

 for a considerable number of years, nevertheless, 

 there appears to be no agreement as to what are 

 the proper conditions for conducting the fusion 

 in order to obtain the highest yield of resorcinol. 

 Using an apparatus especially suited for this work, 

 a study was undertaken for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining the optimum conditions for conducting the 

 alkali fusion. The problem resolved itself into 

 a study of the four follovring factors: (1) Eatio 

 of sodium hydroxide to the sodium benzene m- 

 disulphonate ; (2) the proper fusion period; (3) 

 the proper fusion temperature; (4) effect of the 

 addition of water to the sodium hydroxide upon 

 the yield of resorcinol. The results obtained indi- 

 cate that 810° is the best fusion temperature, two 

 hours the best fusion period, 14 to 16 moles sodium 

 hydroxide to one mole sodium benzene m-disul- 

 phonate the best fusion mixture, and that water 

 when present in the fusion mixture tends to re- 

 duce the yield of resorcinol. 



A synthesis of thymol from p-cymene: Max 

 Phillips and H. D. Gibbs. p-cymene, an aromatic 

 hydrocarbon, although long known to chemists, 



