204 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



A solution of 3 grams of methyl-3 - 4-diniethoxycinnamoyl-pyruvate and 

 6 grams of hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 100 c.cs. of alcohol was heated to 

 gentle boiling under a reflux condenser for five hours. The mixture was 

 boiled with animal charcoal and filtered. Half of the alcohol was removed 

 by distillation, and boiling water was added to the residue until a precipitate 

 began to form in the hot liquid, which was then cooled in iced water for a 

 couple of hours and filtered, The isoxazol crystallized from dilute alcohol in 

 colourless prisms, which melted in 135°-137°C, and gave on analysis the 

 following results: — 



0-1100 substance gave 0-2532 C0 2 and 0-0600 H 2 0. 

 corresponding to C 62-77, H 6"06 

 C 16 H n 5 N requires C 63-3, H 5-61. 



As in the case of the action of hydroxylamine hydrochloride on methyl 

 ciunamoyl-pyruvate, previously described by Eyan and Algar (Proc. Eoyal 

 Irish Acad, xxxii (1913) B, p. 12), the methyl ester of the pyruvic acid was 

 converted by the hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the ethyl alcoholic solution 

 into the ethyl ester of the isoxazol-carboxylic acid. 



The isoxazol is insoluble in dilute aqueous potash, sparingly soluble in 

 cold, readily in hot alcohol, and readily soluble in chloroform. 



An alcoholic solution of the substance gives no coloration with ferric 

 chloride. 



■4. Benzeneo^o-'Py-^-Dwiethoxycinnarnoyl-pyruvic Methyl Ester. 



(CH.O),C,H» . CH : CH . CO . CH . CO . COOCH 3 



N:N.C 6 H 5 . 



A solution of 3-4-dimethoxycinnamoyl-pyruvic methyl ester in alcohol 

 was cooled in iced water, and to it was added a cold, dilute, aqueous solution 

 of phenyldiazonium chloride. On addition of a cold, saturated solution o* 

 sodium acetate, the mixture became turbid, and after standing in iced water 

 for four hours the solid which separated was filtered, recrystallized from 

 dilute alcohol, and dried in a vacuum desiccator. It consisted of orange 

 needles, which melted at 105-107°C, and gave on analysis the following 

 results : — 



0-2000 substance gave 12 c.cs of nitrogen at 766 - 3 m.m.p. and 10° C. 



corresponding to N 7 "14 



C 2 ,H 2 „N 2 6 requires N 7'07. 



Benzeneazo-3-4-dimethoxycinnamoyl-pyruvic methyl ester is soluble in 

 cold alcohol, readily soluble in hot alcohol or benzene, and very readily 

 soluble in chloroform. It dissolves also in dilute aqueous potash. 



