306 Rieth and Bcilstein on the Preparation of Zinc-ethyle. 



the action take place at a low temperature. The product of the 

 reaction was colourless; it was shaken with water, by which the 

 excess of zinccthyle was decomposed, and the unattacked liquid 

 separated from the lower aqueous layer. On fractional distilla- 

 tion no substance of quite constant boiling-point was obtained, 

 and the product was accordingly shaken with potash, by which 

 some chloride of potassium was separated; and, after washing and 

 drying, the liquid was fractionally distilled. The greater part of 

 the product passed at 137°, and formed a limpid liquid, which, 

 by analysis and vapour-density determination, was found to have 

 the formula G 6 H 13 C10. It has a pleasant aromatic odour, 

 burns with green flame, mixes with alcohol and ether in all pro- 

 portions, and is insoluble in water. Its rational formula, as de^ 



duced from the vapour-density, is £ 2 tj4 pi r i an( ^ ^ s ^ or " 

 mation is thus expressed : — 



"V€ 2 H 4 C1J *7 + G 9 H 5 J + <<J vC 2 H 4 CI J*)' 



2 



By the action of monochlorinated ether on zincmethyle, a body 

 was obtained which had quite analogous properties, and whose 

 formation took place in the same manner. It has the formula 



% H 4 ^cT 1 °' and li b ° ils at 1 1 7 °' 



Lieben and Bauer then tried to remove the atom of ether 



which these bodies still contain, by the further action of zinc- 



Q 2 H 4 Q 2 H 5 1 

 ethyle on the substance p 2 u4 pi r^ * n sealed tubes, at first 



for twenty-four hours in the water-bath, and afterwards to a 

 temperature of 120° to 140° C. in the oil-bath. The analysis 

 of a portion of a substance obtained, which distilled over between 



114° and 130°, led to the formula |J^ (^H^ 9 * The for " 

 mation of this body is thus expressed : — ■ 



V€ 2 H 4 , CI J^) + Ln ^ G 2 H 5-^ W +<v Vc 2 H 4 ,C 2 H 5 J e J' 



"With the investigation of the chemical and physical properties 

 of this substance, which has the composition of butylic ether, 



Q4TJ9"! 



P4H9 r 9j ^ e au ^ nors are s tiH engaged. 



Rieth and Beilstein* have described the following simple 

 method of obtaining zincethyle. An alloy of zinc and sodium 

 is prepared by melting together four parts of zinc with one of 

 sodium. The zinc must be heated in a Hessian crucible till it 



* Liebig's Annalen, August 1862. 



