MM. Rieth and Beilstein on Zincethyle. 541 



155°. That this body is really the homologue of hydrochloric 

 glycol, was proved by treating it with caustic potash. It was 

 thus converted into oxide of amylene, which was identical in all 

 its properties with that obtained by Bauer. 



Carius likewise obtained a correspondingcompound,€ ,6 H 33 CIO, 

 from cetene, Q 18 H 32 . A compound obtained by the action of 

 hypochlorous acid on benzole, which appears to have the for- 

 mula € 6 H 9 CI 3 O 3 , is still under investigation. 



He has also found that other classes of bodies assimilate hy- 

 pochlorous acid ; and he describes some experiments on citra- 

 conic acid, O 5 H 6 O 4 , only the results of which can be here given. 

 By the above action he obtains a new acid which he calls chloro- 

 citramalic acid; thus 



€ 5 H 4 O 2 , O 2 , H 2 + HCIO = €5 1 ^ 1 ° 2 "| O 3 , H 3 . 



Citraconic ~, n J ,. 



•j Cnlorocitramalic 



acid. 



This is a strong acid, which, dried in vacuo, forms a solid, 

 colourless, uncrystallizable substance ; it readily exchanges two 

 atoms of hydrogen for metal. When it is treated with zinc, gas 

 is disengaged ; the chlorine of the acid becomes replaced by hy- 

 drogen, forming a new acid, citramalic acid, homologous with 

 malic acid, 



£5 H 4 9 2 | 03 ^ H s + JJ2 _ C 5 H 5 Q^ ^ R 3 + HC1< 



, J Citramalic acid. 



Cnlorocitramalic 

 acid. 



When the neutral potash salt of cnlorocitramalic acid is boiled, 

 it is rapidly decomposed, forming potassic chloride, and the 

 potassic salt of a new acid, 



£5 IT 4 A2"l 



CI /O 3 , HK 2 + H 2 G=KC1 + € 5 H 4 2 ,0 4 ,H 3 K. 



Chlorocitramalate 

 of potash. 



This new acid is homologous with tartaric acid, and Carius 

 names it citratartaric acid. With the investigation of both these 

 new acids he is still engaged. 



Rieth and Beilstein* have investigated the decomposition of 

 the aldehydes and acetates by zincethyle. Ordinary aldehyde 

 acted but slowly on zincethyle, and the action had to be pro- 

 moted by gentle heating, by which it was effected in a few hours. 

 When there was no more free. zincethyle, the decomposition was 

 complete, and the excess of aldehyde was distilled off in the water- 

 bath. The residue consisted of a tough mass, which was a simple 

 * Liebig's Annalen, May 1863. 



