606 ACTION OF OXIDISING AGENTS ON COMPOUNDS OF DIMETHYL-THETINE., ~ 

bromate of dimethyl-thetine. This is similar to the action of the same 
oxidising agent on the base, except that bromine is liberated. A very small 
quantity of a volatile crystallme compound, smelling like bromoform or bromide 
of carbon, is also produced, together with a very small quantity of acetic acid. 
The experiments just described show that the action of oxidising agents on 
the compounds of dimethyl-thetine is the same as that of oxidising agents on their — 
constituents, z.¢., sulphide of methyl and a substitution derivative of acetic acid. ; 
In fact, the action in all cases may be regarded as consisting, in the first instance, — 
of the dissociation of the thetine compound into sulphide of methyl,—(OH), (Br), © 
(NO;), &c., according to the thetine compound employed,—and glycolyl 
CH,—COOH. The sulphide of methyl is then oxidised either to methyl 
sulphurous acid or dimethyl sulphone, or to both, the glycolyl to carbonie 
anhydride. 
In conclusion, I have to express my thanks to my assistant, Mr A. RicHARD-— 
son, for his assistance in this investigation. 
