26 Mr Fenton, An attempted Synthesis of Uric Acid. 



dioxide is evolved and a very sparingly soluble crystalline sub- 

 stance is obtained, which proves to be glyco-uril 



H 



/NH.C.NH\ 



co; | ;co. 



Xnh.c.nh/ 



H 



This compound was obtained in the first instance by reduction 

 of allantoin with sodium amalgam (Reineck), and afterwards by 

 condensation of glyoxal with urea (Schiff). In the present case 

 its production probably results from decomposition of glyco-uril 

 carboxylic acid and not from the previous formation of glyoxal, 

 since mesoxalic semi-aldehyde itself is relatively stable under 

 the conditions of the experiment ; but this matter requires 

 further investigation. 



The properties of glyco-uril have been carefully studied by 

 many investigators, but a remarkable colour reaction, which 

 appears to be very characteristic, has been overlooked. If the 

 substance is evaporated to dryness on a water-bath with strong 

 nitric acid and the residue treated with caustic soda only a slight 

 pink or orange colour is obtained, but on the addition of sodium 

 hypochlorite this changes to an intense purple. 



