M. Wurtz on Polyethylcnic Alcohols. 305 



When this base is heated with hydrochloric glycol; the hydro- 

 chlorate of the base tctroxethylenamine is formed. 



(G 2 H 4 Oj 3 NH 3 + C 2 H 5 CIO = (C 2 H 4 O) 4 NH 3 , HC1. 



Trioxethylenamine. Hydrochloric Hydrochlorate of 



glycol. tctroxethylenamine. 



With reference to the constitution of these bases, if it be 

 assumed that the diatomic 'oxide of ethylene, by fixing an atom 

 of hydrogen in ammonia, may become monatomic, 



G 2 H 4 O"+H = C 2 H 5 0', 

 they may be referred to the type ammonia, and the formulas of 

 their hydrochlorates become, — 



tt3 \- NCI Hydrochlorate of monoxethylenamine. 



(£ 2 H 5 O 1 ) 2 T 



Ti2 f NCI Hydrochlorate of dioxethylenamiue. 



v -J j-NCl Hydrochlorate of trioxethylenamine. 



(C 2 H & O) 4 } NCI Hydrochlorate of tctroxethylenamine. 



But they may also be referred to the mixed type, water and am- 

 monia, nH 2 l n i ,-, ,i c , T • 



TT3 f N > a author prcters tins view. 



The union of anhydrous trioxethylenamine with ammonia can 

 take place in several proportions. One, two, three, or four mo- 

 lecules of oxide of ethylene can unite with one molecule of the 

 anhydrous base, forming oxygenated bases more and more com- 

 plex, but in which the basic power is also feebler. They never- 

 theless have an alkaline reaction, combine with hydrochloric acid, 

 and form double salts with bichloride of platinum. These latter 

 do not crystallize, and are very difficult to purify and separate. 

 The analysis of some of these bases gave results agreeing with 

 the formulae 



(C 2 H 4 O) 5 Nil 3 . HC1, PtCl 2 , 



(C 2 ir*0) 7 Nll 3 .HCl,PtCl 2 . 

 These bodies, although containing nitrogen, and being 

 distinctly alkaline, are not compound ammonias, and cannot be 

 referred to that type. It is accordingly probable that among 

 natural oxygen bases there are some which arc not compound 

 ammonias, that is, cannot be regarded as derived from ammonia 

 by substitution. 



Wurtz* tried the action of aldehyde on glycol, expecting to 

 * Comples Rcndus, August 26', 1861. 



