METHYL SALICYLATE III. 89 
peroxide and methyl salicylate were sealed, wrapped in tin foil, 
and placed in a steam bath at 100°. The coloration appeared 
in a few minutes. Of a number of such tubes the following will 
serve as examples: 
TABLE 1V.—The action of hydrogen peroxide on methyl salicylate at 100°. 
is Contents of tube. Remarks. 
Methylisalicylate2:0\ees. 20s a ee Aqueous layer, colorless. 
1 | Hydrogen peroxide, acid with sulphuric acid, 3 per cent solu- | Ester layer, yellow. 
tion 10 cc. 
Methy] salicylate 0.5 ec_.__-_----.------------------------------ Aqueous layer, light 
alee hlorotorm2!0/Cc sess an el yo eee ee ee ee eee yellow. Chloroform 
Hydrogen peroxide same as above 10 cc_____--__----_----------- layer, yellow. 
These tubes were protected from the light and heated in a 
steam bath over night. The colored compound is reduced with 
the destruction of the color, by passing sulphur dioxide gas 
into the solution. Hydrogen peroxide and other oxidizing agents 
restore the color. 
It is thus established that hydrogen peroxide will color methyl 
salicylate either in acid or alkaline solution, in a manner similar 
to the action of sunlight and oxygen. The temperature is an 
important factor of the rate of the reaction. 
The following experiments were designed to show the effect 
of formaldehyde upon the formation of the colored compound. 
The tubes filled as described in Table V were wrapped in 
asbestos paper to protect them from the light, put in a steam 
bath, and examined at intervals of a few minutes until the first 
evidences of color appeared, and then, in order to avoid any 
chance of light effect, examined only at long intervals. 
TABLE V.—The effect of formaldehyde on the coloration of methyl salicylate. 
Temperature 100°. 
Rube i Contents of tube. Remarks. 
22 
26 
Methyl salicylate 2 ce _.._.....2.-.-----------_------- 
A Colorless. 
Formaldehyde 5 cc. of a 40 per cent solution __-__---__- 
Methyl salicylate 2 ce -____._-------------------------- Rapidly colored yellow in ester 
Hydrogen peroxide 2 cc. of a 3 per cent solution_____- layer. 
Methyl salicylate 2 ee -____-_-_------------------------ 
é 5 Colored yellow in ester layer, but 
| 29 | Hydrogen peroxide 2 cc. of a 3 per cent solution______ es i yf 
lowly th 26. 
Formaldehyde 2 cc. of a 40 per cent solution_________- Lito ci Gina wake 
111016—-3 
