Potassium on Ethyl Succinate. 135 



phosphoric chloride, then, we see that, if four molecules of the 

 chloride are caused to act upon one molecule of the substance 

 C.jH.gOg, a liquid chloride is formed which is decomposed 

 by water yielding a new acid. I have not yet studied this new 

 acid, and can, therefore, not state in what manner it is derived 

 from the original substance. As it can apparently be prepared 

 in any desirable quantity with comparatively little trouble, its 

 examination will probably give interesting and positive results. 



In addition to the results already recounted, I will mention 

 the following: 



1. Acetyl chloride exerts no influence upon the substance 

 C , all, gOg. It simply dissolves it when gentle heat is applied, 

 but, on cooling, the unchanged substance crystallizes out. This 

 result could be anticipated with considerable certainty, as the 

 presence of alcoholic hydroxyl in the substance was not at all 

 probable. Still the experiment was necessary to prove the 

 fact, no matter how probable it might appear. 



2. Ammonia does not act upon the substance either in 

 aqueous or alcoholic solution, v. Fehling (loc. cit.) states that 

 with ammonia the body yielded a bright yellow compound 

 crystallizing in needles. I endeavored in vain to obtain such 

 a compound. I first boiled the substance with very strong 

 aqueous ammonia ; it remained unchanged. I then conducted 

 dried ammonia gas into an alcoholic solution of the substance. 

 The solution turned deep yellow in color, but I was unable to 

 extract from it anything save the original substance. This 

 indeed, sometimes crystallizes in needles — a fact which may 

 have misled v. Fehling. By analogy we should expect the 

 formation of a compound with ammonia corresponding to the 

 metallic compound described above. It is possible that some 

 change in the conditions may lead to its formation. 



3. Hydrogen in the nascent state (from tin and chlorhydric 

 acid) does not act upon the substance. If the group CO is 

 present, it is difficult to see why this should not be converted 

 into the secondary alcohol group CH.OH by the action of 

 hydrogei 



4. A solution of potassic permanganate, as well 

 nitric acid, oxidize the substance very slowly. Th 

 of the oxidation I have not yet examined. In > 

 with the oxidation by means of potassic permanganate a peculiar 

 phenomenon was noticed which deserves mention. I have 

 stated that the oxidation took place slowly ; the product was 

 not an acid, so that the manganic oxide formed was precipitated : 

 but, further, the substance oxidized was insoluble in water, so 

 that the manganic oxide, being produced in contact with the 



