MM. Baeyer and Scheibler on MelUtic Acid. 449 



all the bromine is removed, and a strongly alkaline solution is 

 obtained which has all the properties of neurine. 



It is interesting in regard to the constitution of neurine, that 

 the group oxethyle which is present in it is also a constituent 

 of taurine. Choline, in the gall, and sinkaliue, which is present 

 in white mustard, are probably identical with neurine, which 

 thus plays an important and varied part in the organic kingdom. 



Baeyer and Scheibler have given a preliminary account* of a 

 research they have undertaken on the constitution of mellitic 

 acid. According to them, this acid has the composition of ben- 

 zole (G 6 H 6 ) in which six atoms of hydrogen are replaced by six of 

 carboxyle, G O 2 H : G 6 * (GO 2 H) 6 ". Heated with lime, it is com- 

 pletely decomposed into carbonic acid and benzole ; but the six of 

 carbonic acid can also be successively removed. Treated with 

 sodium-amalgam, mellitic acid takes up 6H and gives a new 

 sixbasic acid, G 6 H 6 (G O' 2 H) 6 , which, heated with sulphuric acid, 

 is resolved into the quadribasic acid C 6 H 2 (G O 2 H) 4 . To these 

 four of hydrogen may be added ; and the new acid again loses 

 carbonic acid if treated with sulphuric acid, and thus benzoic 

 acid is obtained as the last member of the chain. 



All these acids belong to the following two series, in which 

 those prepared from mellitic acid, and whose existence is di- 

 stinctly proved, are designated by an asterisk : — 



*G 6 (G O 2 H) 6 , *G 6 H 6 (G O 2 H)«. 



G 6 H (G0 2 H) 5 , 



*G 6 H 2 (G O 2 H) 4 , G 6 H 6 (G O 2 H) 4 . 



G 6 H 3 (G0 2 H) 3 , 



G 6 H 4 (G O 2 H) 2 , G 6 H 6 (G O 2 H) 2 . 

 *G 6 H 5 (G0 2 H). 



The still missing links will doubtless be prepared from melli- 

 tic acid; and as the further investigation will require large 

 quantities of mellite, the authors address a request to the pos- 

 sessors of this rare substance to be furnished with some. 



Lieben has published a preliminary notice f of a research on 

 which he has for some time been engaged. The object of this 

 was to seek a synthetical method for passing from the lower 

 alcohols to the higher ones, and in such a manner as to give at 

 the same time an insight into the constitution of the bodies ob- 

 tained. The means used consisted of the zinc compounds of the 

 alcohol radicals, which were acted upon by the chlorine substitu- 

 tion-products. The chlorinated ethers were the best fitted for 



* Liebig's Annalen, February 1866. t Ibid. 1867. 



Phil. Mag. S. 4. Vol. 33. No. 225. June 1867. 2 G 



