Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 309 



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shown by M. Engelhardt. These reactions induced the author to 

 suppose that lactic acid might be a compound constituted of formic 

 acid and hydruret of benzoyl (aldehyde benzoique). Guided by 

 these ideas, M. Strecker succeeded in forming lactic acid by means of 

 aldehyd and hydrocyanic acid, which is readily converted into lactic 

 acid. 



The following are the results of M. Strecker's experiments : — 

 Aldehyd, ammonia and prussic acid, treated in aqueous solution 

 by hydrochloric acid, combine and fix two equivalents of water : 

 there are formed sal-ammoniac and the hydrochloric combination of 

 a new substance homologous with glycocoll and leucin, which the 

 author has named alanin. The following equation represents the 

 formation of alanin : — 



C 4 H 4 O + C 2 NH + 2HO = C 6 W NO 4 . 



aldehyd alanin 



Alanin is isomeric with lactamide, urethran and sarcosin ; it differs 

 from these compounds by its properties. Alanin crystallizes in 

 oblique rhombic prisms ; it dissolves readily in water, but is insoluble 

 in alcohol or in aether. The solution of alanin has a distinct 

 sugary taste ; it has no action on litmus paper. Alanin exposed to 

 a moderate heat undergoes no change ; it requires a temperature ex- 

 ceeding 392° F. to sublime it, and 4 this is effected without changing 

 its composition. 



Alanin combines with acids, and gives a double salt with chloride 

 of platina ; these combinations, the composition of which does not 

 differ from the salts formed with organic bases, possess an acid re- 

 action. They are readily soluble in water and in alcohol. M. 

 Strecker has analysed the following compounds : — 



C 6 W NO 4 , NO 6 H ; 

 C 6 W NO 4 , H CI ; 

 2(OH7N0 4 ,) HC1; 

 2(C 6 W NO 4 ,) H CI, 2Pt CI 2 . 



Alanin combines also with metallic oxides, forming compounds 

 soluble in water, and less soluble in alcohol. In these combinations 

 the metallic oxide replaces 1 equivalent of the water of the alanin. 

 The author has analysed the copper salt, crystallized in prisms of a 

 fine blue colour (C 6 H 6 NO 3 , CuO + HO), and which loses 1 equi- 

 valent of water at 248° F. ; the silver salt (C 6 H 6 NO 3 , AgO), and 

 the lead salt (C 6 H 6 N0 3 , PbO, +PbO, HO). 



Alanin combines also with nitrate of silver. This compound, re- 

 presented by C 6 H 7 NO 4 , AgO, NO 5 , crystallizes in colourless rhom- 

 bic tables ; it is soluble in alcohol. 



It will be observed that the properties of alanin differ much from 

 those of urethan and lactamide, with which it is isomeric ; it more 

 nearly resembles sarcosin, from which however it is distinguished by 

 its property of combining with metallic oxides. It is therefore 

 alanin, and not sarcosin, which is the homologue of glycocoll and 

 leucin. By substituting valeral for aldehyd, the author hopes to 

 obtain leucin, 



