218 M. Fittig on Phenyle Compounds. 



The action is much less energetic than that of chloride of carbon, 

 and requires to be aided by heat. The amylene was absorbed 

 by bromine, so as to convert it into bromide ; and the authors 

 confirm the observations made by other chemists as to the diffi- 

 culty of obtaining this body pure, inasmuch as it is mixed with 

 other bromides, and is partially decomposed by distillation. 



Sesquichloride of carbon, € 2 C1 6 , acts very energetically on 

 zincethyle, and is hereby reduced to the protochloride of car- 

 bon, Q 2 CI 4 . This latter body appears to be without action on 

 zincethyle. 



According to Fittig*, when one equivalent of benzole is heated 

 with 2 of bromine, a slight elevation of temperature ensues, and 

 a brown liquid is formed which continually gives out hydro- 

 bromic acid. When the liquid is allowed to stand for about 

 eight days, then treated with potash, washed, and rectified along 

 with some unaltered benzole and a small quantity of crystalline 

 dibromobenzole, monobromobenzole passes over amounting to 

 about three-fourths of the benzole taken, and with a constant 

 boiling-point between 152° and 154°. 



Monobromobenzole is a very indifferent body ; it can be boiled 

 for days with caustic potash without alteration. It is also 

 without action upon cyanide of potassium or acetate of silver. 



It is, however, acted upon by sodium : when to an ethereal 

 solution of monobromobenzole sodium, is added, a bluish-black 

 coating is rapidly formed upon it, which becomes heavy and sinks, 

 and at the same time the ether becomes heated to ebullition. 

 When the action is finished, the mass is treated with ether so 

 long as anything is extracted, the ethereal solution filtered, 

 and the ether distilled off, upon which a yellowish coloured 

 oil is left, which at a higher temperature passes over colour- 

 less and solidifies in the receiver. This body is the radical 



phenyle , € ,2 H 10 , or p 6 tt 5 f , and it stands to the alcohol, Q 6 H 6 O, 



homologous with benzoic alcohol, in the same relation as ethyle, 



G 2 H 5 1 



G 2 H 5 i > to etnvuc alcohol. 



Phenyle crystallizes from its alcoholic solution in large colourless 

 transparent, brilliant lamina?, which are endowed witn a brilliant 

 lustre. It melts at 70 o, 5, and boils at about 245°. 



In a subsequent investigation f, Fittig has examined some of 

 the derivatives of this body. When strong nitric acid is poured 

 over small quantities of phenyle, this body becomes transiently 

 black, and then dissolves in the acid with violent action. On 



* Liebig's Annalen, vol. xxi. p. 362. f Ibid. December 1862. 



