ETHTLIDENEDIAMIN. 263 



crystalline hydrochlorids, aurochlorids, and platinoehlorids. Reac- 

 tions are usually given with only three or four reagents. It will be 

 noticed that one of these products has no nitrogen and yet is men- 

 tioned as a ptomain (!) ; further that the formula of five of these 

 compounds is not in accord with the law of even numbers. Consid- 

 ering the amounts of the bases available for " izal " experiments, it 

 is proper to expect accurate, exhaustive, thorough work. Chemical 

 science is not advanced by coining names or establishing formulae. 



A Base, CgjHjjN, was obtained by Dellzinier (1889) and is said 

 to be the alkaloid isolated in 1879 by Brouardel, which in its chem- 

 ical and physiological properties was described as similar to veratrin. 

 It forms an almost colorless oily fluid, which possesses a hawthorn- 

 like odor. It is very readily oxidizable and yields the veratrin-like 

 reactions only in the presence of air. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, 

 toluene and benzene ; and forms well-defined salts which are very 

 deliquescent. It appears to be an amin and in its composition dif- 

 fers from cevadin by 9H2O. Nothing is stated in regard to its 

 source or method of preparation. The analytical results given 

 (C= 89.41, H = 7.3, N = 3.03) correspond more to the formula 

 CaA3N. 



Ethylidenediamin (?), C^HgN^- — This base was considered at first 

 by Brieger to be identical with ethylenediamin, but subsequent com- 

 parison showed this to be an error. Thus the former is poisonous 

 and does not form a gold salt, while the latter is not poisonous and 

 does form a rather difficultly soluble aurochlorid. Again, ethylenedi- 

 amin forms a platinochlorid which is almost insoluble in hot water, 

 whereas the platinum double salt of the ptomain is much more easily 

 soluble. Brieger, therefore, inclined to the belief that it was iden- 

 tical with ethylidenediamin, CH3.CH(NH2)2, rather than with ethyl- 

 enediamin, which has the structure CHj.NHj.CHjj.NHj. This 

 ptomain was obtained by Brieger, 1885 (I., 44), from decomposing 

 haddock (see gadinin). Kulneff has probably met with this base in 

 the liquids of the stomach in gastrectesis. Carbone has reported it 

 in cultures of the proteus vulgaris with gadinin, trimethylamin, and 

 cholin. 



The free base can be obtained without decomposition, on distilling 

 the hydrochlorid with sodium hydrate. 



The hydrochlorid, C2HJN2.2HCI, crystallizes in long, glistening 

 needles which are readily soluble in water, insoluble in absolute 

 alcohol. It gives no combination with gold chlorid. For its be- 

 havior to alkaloidal reagents see Table I. 



* The platinochlorid, C2H8Nj.2HCl.PtCl, (Pt = 41.49 per cent.), 

 forms small yellow plates which are moderately difficultly soluble in 

 water. It can be readily recrystallized from hot water. 



