56 Scientific Intelligence. 
Beilstein and Kurbatow in Caucasian petroleum, eee probably 
present as shown by the specific gravity, were not isolated. 
fraction of Caucasian petroleum boiling between 95° and 100° 
has a specific gravity of 0-748, while the similar Galician fraction 
has a specific gravity of 0°7291 and that from American petroleum 
one a 7102.—Liebig Ann., ccxx, 188, Aug., 1883. 
5 the preparation of’ Mesit itylene. —Varenne has made a 
series of experiments on the preparation of mesitylene based on 
the fact that this hydrocarbon results from a condensation of 
three molecules of acetone with the elimination of three sole, 
sulphuric acid and allowed to stand for an hour. n it is dis- 
tilled over a naked fire, the heat being made uniform over the 
lower surface of the vessel. Toward the end w e mass 
swells up, a current of steam is passed into the flask, the fire is. 
extinguished, and the operation stopped when no more striz of 
mesitylene are seen on the condenser tube. The yield is satisfac- 
tory, the 180 grams of acetone giving 40 grams of crude product. 
t is purified by washing with sodium carbonate, by solution in 
ether and by Soe from calcium chloride.—Bull. oe C, ne. 
II, xl, 266, Oct., 
6. certain sdarswctcaes of Benzil.—Burton has studied 
pon an alcoholic ae of ben It is an addition prods 
of the foolisats C,,H,,0,(CHN), a and was regarded as the nitrile of 
oe acid. hen va. gerne it would ied nittle — 
an acid. 
at 0°, and allowed to stand for some weeks with pnb agita- 
tion. From the solution, fine brilliant monoclinic crystals ma 
rated. On adding ammonium carbonate to the mother r liq 
white precipitate was thrown down, which after Seyaiaiiianbieds 
from alcohol, had the formula 
C,H,C(OH)CO. NH, 
| 
C,H,C(OH)CO. NH, 
On account of its becoming viscous no exact determination of the 
fusing point could be made. It softens at 150°, but is not fully 
melted until the temperature. reaches 230°. It is soluble in hot 
water and in alcohol but not in ether From its amide character 
8 : tig weakly basic. It dissolves in hot HCl and separates 
amide again. The amide has no acid properties and is insoluble 
in alkali carbonates and hydrates. he solution in sodium hy- 
drate becomes deep red on warming, and on addition of an acid, 
deposits red mae containing nitrogen.— Ber. Berl. Chem. Ges... 
xvi, 2232, Sept., 1883. G. F. B. 
