14 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Methyl-p-metJwxy-lenzylidene-acetone-oxalate, 

 CH3O . CA . OH : CH . CO . CH. . CO . COOCH*. 



A mixture of 18"8 grms. of p-methoxy-benzylidene-acetone with 30 grms. 

 of dimethyl oxalate was heated until molten on the water-bath. 25 grms. 

 of sodium wire were then added and the preparation was proceeded with as 

 in the case of cinnaruyl-pyruvie ester. The product, when reerystallized 

 from absolute alcohol, melted at 12T"5 C. 



The yield was 13 grms. 



02069 grm. of substance gave 04867 grm. of C0 2 and 04014 grm. H : 0, 

 corresponding to C 644 and H 5 - 4. 



C 14 H u 5 requires C 641, H 5 4. 



Methyl-p-methoxy-benzylidene-acetone-oxalate crystallizes from alcohol 

 in yellow needles which are insoluble in water or petroleum ether, sparingly 

 soluble in cold alcohol, readily soluble in hot alcohol, ether, chloroform, 

 benzene, or acetone. Its solution in hot alcohol is yellow in colour, and gives 

 a green fluorescence. It dissolves slowly in aqueous potash, giving an orange- 

 coloured solution which decomposes on warming. 



An alcoholic solution of the substance gives a greenish-brown colour with 

 ferric chloride. The crystals dissolve in concentrated sulphuric acid, giving a 

 blood-red solution from which by addition of water a yellow precipitate is 

 obtained. Its sodium derivative is not very readily soluble in water. 

 Mordanted wool is coloured by the substance in the following manner : — 



Mordant. Colour. 



Aluminium Sulphate, . . Orange-yellow. 



Potassium Dichromate, . . Saffron. 



Stannous Chloride, . . Orange. 



Ferric Sulphate, . . . Olive-brown. 



p-Methoxy-beiizylidene-acetone oxalic acid, 



CH 3 . C.H . CH : CH . CO . CH 2 . CO . COOH. 



By letting a mixture of 1 - 31 grms. of methyl-p-methoxy-benzylidene- 

 aeetone oxalate with 20 c.cs. semi-normal potash stand for about 24 hours, 

 solution slowly took place with separation of a small amount of a solid 

 (anisylidene-acetone), which, after extraction with ether and recrystallization 

 from dilute alcohol, melted at 72 : -73° O, gave no colour with alcoholic ferric 

 chloride, and formed an orange-coloured solution in concentrated sulphuric 

 acid. The alkaline solution, which was coloured orange, was again extracted 



