M. Schutzenberger on the Preparation of Methyle. 359 



The base appears to be of easily alterable nature, and has not yet 

 been obtained in the free state. If an aqueous solution of the 

 tin-salt is decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, and the acid 

 filtrate from the sulphide of tin saturated with potash, while air 

 is excluded no precipitate is formed ; but as soon as air is allowed 

 access, oxygen is greedily absorbed and the formation of a yellow 

 crystalline substance takes place. This body is a base having 

 the formula G 10 H 8 N 2 O, and forms with acids very well-defined 

 salts. Curiously enough, it is decomposed when boiled with 

 either alcohol or water; the change in the case of water is as 

 follows : — 



£io H 8 N 2 + H 2 O = G 10 H 7 NO 2 + NH 3 . 

 The new body crystallizes in beautiful yellowish-red needles ; 

 it is an indifferent body, but is decomposed by boiling hydro- 

 chloric acid in the following manner : — 



€ 10 H 7 NO 2 + H 2 O=€ 10 H 6 O 3 + NH 3 . 



This new body crystallizes in yellow needles which are easily 

 soluble in ether. Like alizarine it is sublimed when heated, and 

 gives oxalic and phthalic acids when oxidized, but it differs from 

 alizarine in giving no precipitate with chloride of barium ; and 

 cotton with a mordant of alum is not coloured ; wool and silk 

 are coloured yellow. Like chloroxynaphthalic acid it forms a 

 series of well-defined salts. 



The authors have observed analogous reactions in the phe- 

 nylic acid group, which they propose following up. 



Schutzenberger describes* the following process of obtaining 

 methyle-gas. The method of Sir B. Brodie for the preparation 

 of peroxide of acetyle consists in allowing pure precipitated bin- 

 oxide of barium to act upon cooled acetic anhydride. By using 

 an excess of binoxide and warming the mixture, a large quantity 

 of gas is disengaged with regularity, and at the same time some 

 acetate of barium is formed. The operation may be effected in 

 a 4- or 6-ounce flask provided with a delivery-tube. The gas is 

 a mixture in exact proportions of two volumes of carbonic acid 

 and one volume of a carburetted hydrogen. The former is ab- 

 sorbed by potash, and the carburetted hydrogen left undissolved 

 is found to have the composition and all the properties of the 



€H 3 

 radical methyle, G 2 H 6 , the methylide of methyle, q tj3, the pre- 

 paration of which thus becomes very easy. The reaction, in 

 virtue of which it is formed, is thus written : — 



2G 4 H 6 O 3 +2Ba0 2 =G 2 O 4 -fG 2 H 6 + 2G 2 H 3 BaO 2 . 



Peroxide of Binoxide Methyle. Acetate of 



acetyle. of barium. barium. 



* Comptes Rendus, September 18, 1865. 



