624 THE ACTION OF IODACETIC AND OF BROMACETIC ETHYL ETHER, ETC. 
amounts to 27'8 per cent., whereas the chloro-platinate of dimethyl-thetine,— 
CH, 
| 
2/CH,—S—Cl Pil, 20K 
| 
CH,—CO,H 
requires 28°6 per cent. of platinum, it is probable that the ethyl-hydrate of 
dimethyl-thetine produced by the action of oxide of silver on the ethyl-bromate 
is an unstable substance, which is readily resolved when heated with water 
into alcohol and the base dimethyl-thetine— 
lai CH, 
| 
CH—S—OH = CH, _S—OH 
| | 
CH, CO;Gn" + 0 CH,CO,H + C,H,OH. 
The results of the above experiments show that the action of bromacetie 
ethyl ether on sulphide of methyl] is of a totally different character from that of 
iodacetic ethyl ether, the former yielding an addition product with the greatest 
ease, while the latter yields no such a product. It appeared to be of some 
interest to complete the investigation by an experiment on the action of sul- 
phide of methyl on chloracetic ether, and accordingly the experiment was made. 
A quantity of chloracetic ether was sealed up in a tube with about twice an 
equimolecular quantity of sulphide of methyl, the mixture heated in boiling 
water for a day or two, and then allowed to remain at rest for some weeks. 
When next examined the tube was found to contain abundance of colourless 
crystals, apparently blunt needles, arranged in radiating groups. Thinking that 
these probably consisted of chloride of trimethyl-sulphine, and that therefore 
the reaction had been of a kind similar to that which occurs when the iodacetie 
ether is employed, the tube was opened and some of the crystals (which were 
exceedingly deliquescent) removed, dissolved in water, and mixed with chloride 
of platinum solution. A light orange-coloured salt soon crystallised out in 
small plates. These were washed with cold water and dried. Two deter- 
minations of platinum gave 30°50 per cent. and 30°47 per cent., whereas the 
chloro-platinate of trimethyl-sulphine requires 34°9 per cent. 
Curiously enough, the percentage of platinum required for the chloro- 
platinate of tri-e¢hy/-sulphine is 30°4 per cent., a number exactly agreeing with 
the amount yielded by the salt under examination. 
It is almost inconceivable that chloride of tri-ethyl-sulphine should have 
been produced, and at present the nature of the reaction that occurs must 
remain in doubt, as the quantity of substance at my disposal was too small to 
admit of a further examination. 
In conclusion, I take the opportunity of thanking my pupil Mr J. N. Cotte. 
for his assistance during this investigation. 

