342 BROOKS. 



THE OIL OF MICHELIA LOXGIFOLIA BL. 



Since champaca oils which were prepared from mixtures of the white 

 and yellow flowers have been described and since this confusion may 

 arise in the future, it was thought advisable to compare the oils from the 

 two species. The tree bearing the white flowers. Michelia longifolia Bl., 

 is a larger tree than ilkhelia champaca L., and the leaves of the former 

 are considerably larger. 



The champaca oil described by Sehimmel and Company ''' was said to have 

 been prepared from both, the yellow and the white flowers. In this oil linalool, 

 methyl eugenol, and methylethyl acetic acid were identified. The yield by 

 distillation is stated to be 0.0125 per cent. 



The white flowers do not contain the crystalline ketone obtained from- the 

 yellow flowers. 



The purified oil was dark green in color and was not fluorescent either 

 when pure or in alcoholic solution. The fluorescence of the sample 

 described by Sehimmel and Company was probably due to oil from the 

 yellow variet}\ It possessed an intensely sweet, almost nauseating odor. 

 The odor of this oil is altogether unlike that from the yellow flowers and 

 may be detected when present in xery small amount in the oil from the 

 yellow blossoms. In my opinion its presence in the latter oil seriously 

 impairs the quality of its fragrance. 



The constants of the oil are as follows: Specific gravity, 0.897; ester 



30° 

 number, 180.0; refractive indes, J^^fj-j 1.4470. 



Owing to the small amount of the sample, about 25 grams, no experi- 

 ments with the object of removing the color were made. The above 

 constants point to a rather large per cent of the esters of fatty acids. 



In a sample weighing 20 grams, linalool, methyl eugenol, methylethyl 

 acetic acid, and acetic acid were identified. A very small per cent of 

 thymol probably also is present. The odor of the oil is chiefly that of 

 the methyl or ethyl ester of methylethyl acetic acid. 



Twenty grams of the oil were saponified by slight excess of caustic potash 

 in alcohol. About 1.0 gram of amorphous material separated on cooling, and 

 this material proved to be a wax-like substance. It was deposited in an 

 amorphous form from ether, or ether-ligroin mixture, and in large, gelatinous 

 flocks from hot alcohol. 



The alkaline, alcohol solution was concentrated by distilling the alcohol in 

 vacuo. Water -vvas then added and the oil separated into neutral, phenol 

 and acid fractions. 



''Semi-Annual Rep., October (1907), 33. 



