Prof. Wanklyn on the Synthesis of Organic Bodies. 305 

 Transformation to Acid. 



f N'" 



IV J IV 



c ,^ C2H , 5 C 



fHO' 

 LC 2 H' 5 



In the one case nitrogen is replaced by NH 2 and H, H ; and in the 

 other by HO' and O". 



Mendius was able to commence even with hydrocyanic acid. The 

 steps in his synthesis are these : — 



Hydrocyanic Acid to Methylamine . 



(1) CNH + H 4 =CH 3 NH 2 . 



Methylamine, by means of nitrous acid to methyl-alcohol : methyl- 

 alcohol to cyanide of methyle, well-known processes being employed 

 to effect this. 



Cyanide of Methyle to Ethylamine. 



(2) CNCH 3 + H 4 =C 2 H 5 NH 2 . 



From ethylamine it is easy to get cyanide of ethyle, from which, by 

 a third repetition, we arrive at the propylic stage : — 



(3) CNC 2 H 5 + H 4 =C 3 H 7 NH 2 . 



Thus the vinic series may be ascended ; thus there is reason to 

 think we may begin with so simple a body as prussic acid, and step 

 by step proceed from one alcohol to the next above it, until we reach 

 the fats and the waxes. There are other methods of effecting the 

 synthesis of the alcohol series, but none of them seem to be so 

 complete and satisfactory as this. Berthelot has obtained alcohols 

 by adding the elements of water to the olefines, and some of the de- 

 fines he has obtained by the destructive distillation of formiates ; but 

 it is an open question, how many olefines can be got by heating the 

 formiates 1 And, at any rate, there is no precision in the preparation 

 of olefines from formiates. 



A very neat and beautiful way of preparing one olefine, viz. com- 

 mon olefiant gas, is, however, due to Berthelot. He exposes charcoal 

 to the action of hydrogen at a very high temperature — the tempera- 

 ture of the electric arc; and then union takes place, resulting in the 

 formation of acetylene : — 



C 2 +H 2 =C 2 H 2 . 



Acetylene exposed to the action of nascent hydrogen in an alkaline 

 liquid gives olefiant gas : — 



C 2 H 2 + H 2 =C 2 H 4 . 



Friedel and Wurtz have converted aldehydes and ketones into 

 alcohols by the action of nascent hydrogen, and thence there arises 

 another method of ascending the vinic series ; and besides there are a 

 number of other reactions which are capable of more or less general 

 employment for the purpose of building up the alcoholic series, but 

 which we have not time to particularize. 



Phil. Mag. S. 4. Vol. 27. No. 182. April 1864. X 



