M. Harnitz-Harnitzsky on the Synthesis of the Fatty Acids. 537 



Harnitz-Harnitzsky, who succeeded in effecting the synthesis 

 of benzoic acid by adding carbonic acid to benzole*, has nowf 

 extended this reaction to the series of hydrocarbons homologous 

 with marsh-gas, and has thus artificially prepared acetic acid, and 

 its homologue, caproic acid. 



Synthesis of Acetic Acid. — When marsh-gas was passed, 

 together with oxychloride of carbon, into a vessel heated to 120°, 

 a reaction took place which is represented by the following 

 equation : — 



€H 4 + GO CI 2 = € 2 H 3 0C1 + HC1. 



Marsh- Phosgene Chloride of 

 gas. gas. acetyle. 



Some of the chloride of acetyle thus formed was condensed in 

 the apparatus, and by its properties can be readily identified ; but 

 the greater part was collected in a vessel connected with the 

 receiver, and containing caustic soda, by which it was completely 

 decomposed, forming chloride of sodium and acetic acid, which 

 then united with soda, forming acetate of soda. The decompo- 

 sition of chloride of acetyle by the soda is thus expressed : — 



€ 2 H 3 OCl + NaH0 = € 2 H 4 O 2 + NaCl. 



Chloride of Acetic acid, 



acetyle. 



In like manner Harnitz-Harnitzsky has prepared chloride of 

 caproyle by the action of oxychloride of carbon on hydride of 

 amyle ; and this, by its action on water, gave caproic acid, thus, 



€ 5 H 12 + £OCP= G 6 H ]1 0C1 + HC1; 



Hydride of Chlorocar- Chloride of 

 amyle. bonic acid. caproyle. 



C 6 H 11 0C1 + H 2 9=€ 6 H 12 2 + HC1. 

 Caproic acid. 



Under the class of acetals may be ranged all compounds of 

 aldehydes with monoatomic alcohols. They have their origin in 

 the combination of two equivalents of alcohol with one of alde- 

 hyde, with loss of water. Wurtz has described the existence of 

 a similar compound, produced by the union of glycol with alde- 

 hyde under elimination of water. Harnitz-Harnitzsky and 

 MenschutkinJ have completed this group, by announcing the 

 existence of a similar class of bodies derived from the triatomic 

 alcohols the glycerines, and which they call glycerols. They 



* Vide antea, p. 310. 



•f* Comptes Rendus, May 1, 1865. 



X Ibid., March 20, 1865. 



Phil Mag. S. 4. No. 199. Suppl Vol. 29. 2 N 



