122 P. T. Austen—New Formation of Dinitroanitline. 
substance, after crystallization from boiling water, fused at 
175°-176°, and on analysis* proved to be the ordinary dinitro- 
aniline. 
The reaction by which dinitroaniline is formed admits of 
various explanations. Wohler has shown that potassium 
cyanate by repeated distillation with water, splits according to 
the formula— 
2KNCO+4H?20=CO3(NH*)?4CO?K?. 
Hence we may suppose the formation of the dinitroaniline 
to be due simply to the action of the dinitrobrombenzol on the 
ammonium carbonate, 
CO3(NH*)?+20°H? ee ee +CO?+ 
20+2HBr. 
The bromhydric acid thus formed acts on the potassium 
carbonate, so that the whole reaction is— 
2CONK + 206H3(NO?)2Br +4H20=2C*H3(NO?)?NH?4 
2002 42KBr+2H?20. 
We can, however, suppose the action to take place directly 
Mabie admitting the previous formation of ammonium car 
nate— 
C*H*(NO?)2N |CO| 
H?/0 
but this appears to me doubtful, since the dinitrobrombenzol 18 
not freely soluble in the very dilute aleohol used. Hence the 
potassium cyanate is exposed principally to the action of the 
water, and much less to the action of the dinitrobrombenzol; 
therefore, although a partial formation of the ester might take 
place, the chief part of the potassium cyanate would be decom- 
posed at the same time by the action of the water, so that if 
the ester were formed, it could only be in small quantities. 
* Calculated. Found. 
C =39°34 39-35 
Be 27 3°01 
