Essential OH of Bovonia pinnaUi. VT 



The product was dark coloured, and had a strong phenolic 

 odour. It was dissolved in ether, and the acid removed from the 

 phenol by shaking with a solution of Sodium carbonate. The- 

 small quantity of acid when finally purified, was crystalline, and 

 melted at 159-160"C. It was not cinnamic acid, and perhaps con- 

 sisted of trimethylgallic acid, which is formed by oxidation of 

 elemicin. 



The ether solution of the phenol after removal of the acid was 

 evaporated to dryness. The residue had a strong phenolic or 

 creosote-like odour, was not crystalline, and when dissolved in* 

 alcohol gave a purplish-brown colour with ferric chloride, which 

 colour remained persistent. 



Tests lor some of the well-known phenols gave negative results, 

 and as the amount was small, its identity could not be determined.. 



The oil, after the removal of the phenol and free acid, was re- 

 peatedly shaken for some days, with a saturated solution of sodium- 

 bisulphite, but no combination took place. Aldehydes were thus^ 

 absent. 



Distillation of the Crude Oil. 



100 c.c of the crude oil were .submitted to distillation under 

 atmospheric pressure. A few drops of an acid water with a little- 

 oil came over below 160°C. (uncorrected). Between 160-250° 

 only 16.5 c.c. came over as first fraction, 10 c.c. of which distilled 

 below 180°. 



Thes temperature rose rapidly to 259°, and distillation then pro- 

 ceeded as follows : — • 



259-265° = 18 c.c. 

 265-270° =50 c.c. 

 270-274° = 63 c.c. 

 274-280° = 70 c.c. 

 This fraction was then separated, and although 3 c.c. of an oil 

 came over on continued heating, yet the temperature did not rise- 

 beyond 280°. The residue in the still was a dark hard pitch-like 

 substance, which powdered readily when cold. 

 The first fraction gave the following results : — 

 Specific gravity at 15°C. = 0.8657. 

 Rotation aD= -hl5.9°. 

 Refractive index at 20° = 1.4639. 

 Cineol was not present. The oil of this fraction was fluorescent. 

 15 c.c. of the first fraction were again distilled, when 7.5 c.c. 

 came over below 158°C., and 5.5 c.c. between 158-190°. The 



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