432 H. B. Hill—E thers of Urie Acid. 
0°4400 grm. lost at 130° 0°0388 grm. 
Calculated for Found. 
(C,H,NO,),Cu. H,O 
H,O 7°85 7°68 
A determination of copper in the dry salt gave,— 
0°4068 grm. left on ignition 0°1523 grm. CuO. 
Calculated for Found. 
(C,H,NO,).Cu 
CuO 37°55 37°43 
The reaction in this case may therefore be written,— 
O,H,(CH,)N,O,+5H,O=3C0,+2N H,+CH;NH,+C,H,NO,. 
It will be seen that this reaction proves the commonly 
accepted view that uric acid is not an hydroxyl but an imide 
acid. 
In order further to establish the relative position of the 
methyl radical, it seemed to me of chief importance to follow 
it through oxidation in alkaline and acid solution, and thus 
determine its relation to allantoin and alloxan or paraban. 
Methylalluntoin. C,H,(CH,;)N,03. 
Methyluriec acid is readily oxidized in alkaline solution, 
according to the method of Claus and Emde.* The solution 
must be dilute with but a small excess of alkali, the potassi¢ 
permanganate added slowly in exact molecular proportion. +8 
soon as the manganese dioxide has separated, it must be fil- 
tered rapidly with the aid of the pump, and the filtrate slightly 
decomposition at 225°. tee 
In spite of many variations of the method, I could obtain 1D 
this way but fifteen per cent of the theoretical yield. From 
the mother liquors evaporated to a syrup, alcohol sepa 
potash salt, probably of methylallantoic acid. On acco 
its uninviting character it was not further examined. 
Methylallantoin dried at 100° gave, on analysis,— 
* Berichte Deutsch. Chem. Gesellsch., vii, 226. 
