510 M. Fittig on Mesitylene. 



preparation either of oil of bitter almonds or of benzoic acid, 

 if ever these substances were required in large quantities. 



If chloride of benzyle be treated with water and freshly pre- 

 cipitated oxide of lead, it is converted into benzylic alcohol, 

 G 7 H 8 O. When chloride of benzyle is treated with phenylate 

 of potassium, a double ether is formed, crystallizing in small na- 



€ 7 H 7 1 

 creous scales, which have the composition ri6TJ5 f €*• 



The substance mesitylene, € 9 H 12 , has so far an interest 

 that it furnishes a well-marked instance of the direct formation 

 of a substance belonging to the aromatic series of hydrocarbons 

 from a substance belonging to the fatty-acid group ; for it is ob- 

 tained from acetone by the withdrawal of water, 



3(€ 3 H 6 0)-3H 2 = € 9 H 12 ; 



and some chemists have on theoretical grounds been disposed to 

 doubt whether it ought to be classed with the aromatic hydro- 

 carbons. Fittig* has published the first part of a complete in- 

 vestigation of the subject. He describes the preparation of me- 

 sitylene, which is effected by heating acetone with sulphuric 

 acid ; he also prepared several of its derivatives, such as the ni- 

 tro-compounds, some of which had already been prepared by 

 other chemists. He has investigated further the action of oxi- 

 dizing agents upon it — and first of all, of chromic acid. This 

 was effected by heating mesitylene with a mixture of chromate 

 of potassium and sulphuric acid. An acid distillate passed over 

 which contained acetic acid; while if the oxidation was inter- 

 rupted before all the mesitylene had disappeared, a small quan- 

 tity of a new acid was found to exist in the oxidizing-mixture, 

 which could not, however, be procured in a state fit for analysis. 

 When oxidized with nitric acid, mesitylene is converted into 

 mesitylenic acid, which crystallizes from alcohol in beautiful co- 

 lourless transparent monoclinic prisms, and melts at 166°. It 

 begins to sublime before reaching its melting-point ; and heated 

 more strongly, it passes oyer without decomposition. It has the 

 formula € 9 H 1O 2 , and bears to mesitylene the same relation 

 that benzoic acid bears to toluole. 



G 7 H 8 + 30=:€'H 6 2 + H 2 9. 



Toluole. Benzoic acid. 



€ 9 H 12 + 30=C 9 H 1O O 2 +H 2 O. 



Mesitylene. Mesitylenic 



acid. 



The salts it forms with the alkaline earths and sodium, silver, 

 and lead alt crystallize. When treated with nitric acid, it yields 



* Liebig's Annalen, vol. cxli. p. 129. 



