M. Freund on Butyryle. 501 
tained by heating microcosmic salt, or acid phosphate of soda. 
i Graham’s metaphosphate of soda acts lke glycide or oxide of 
ethylene, and by successive condensations gives rise to the differ- 
ent modifications of the acid. 
PO CH? 1: 
20h 2 
Ht 0?—H? O= Nat O?, corresponding to ~ yy to ‘ 
Acid phosphate Metaphosphate Glycide. 
of soda. of soda. 
3 ys 
fo + - Nat po asg-* © Nae f Q*, corresponding to ac me ro 
[? 
Maddrell’s meta- ee) renee 
phosphate of soda. 
Freund* has made a series of experiments on the preparation 
of the oxygen radicals of the formic acid series by the action of 
metals on the chloride of these acids, a method analogous to that 
of the preparation of the ether radicals. 
When chloride of acetyle was treated with sodium-amalgam 
no action ensued in the cold, and the action set up at a higher 
temperature produced a complete decomposition with forma- 
tion of empyreumatic substances. The action of chloride of 
butyryle, €¢*H’ OCI, on sodium-amalgam gave better results. 
When slightly warmed together, an action was induced which 
disengaged heat sufficient to continue it ; the flask was connected 
with a Liebig’s condenser, so that the distillate flowed back. 
After a short time the mixture was distilled; the unaltered 
chloride passed off; the residue, consisting of mercury, chloride 
of sodium, and butyryle, was digested with water, and the buty- 
ryle which rose to the surface removed. The chloride of buty- 
ryle which had distilled off was treated again with sodium- 
amalgam, and the process repeated until a large quantity of 
butyryle had been accumulated. This was digested with car- 
bonate of potash, washed, dried over chloride of calcium, and 
rectified. No product of constant boiling-point was obtained ; 
but a portion distilling between 260° and 280° gave on analysis 
numbers agreeing with the formula of butyryle, or rather dibu- 
tyryle, €? H'™# on Sl oo Its formation may be thus ex- 
pressed :— 
ieee +2Na= Gaya f 4+ 2NaCl. 
Chloride of Sodium. Butyryle. 
butyryle. 
* Liebig’s Annale, April 1861. 
