224 



ELECTROLYTIC SYNTHESIS OF DIBASIC ACIDS. 



Copper salt— '6110 gr. gave -1293 gr. CuO. Calculated for CuC ls H 32 4 , 16 '80 per 

 cent, ; found 16*88 per cent. Cu. 



We have already shown that the sebacic acid obtained from castor-oil is identical 

 with the normal acid prepared synthetically by us. It follows, therefore, that the 

 new acid described above has also the normal structure, and possesses the formula 

 COOH(CH 2 ) 16 -C001I. 



The yield of the diethyl ether on electrolysis amounts to nearly 20 per cent, of the 

 theoretical quantity. 



In the malonic series of normal dibasic acids it has been pointed out that members 

 with an even number of carbon atoms show a lower melting-point as their molecular weight 

 increases. The two new acids form no exception to this rule, as may be seen from the 

 following table : — 



Acid. 

 Succinic 

 Adipic 

 Suberic 

 Sebacic 



COOH(CH 9 ) 2 COOH 

 COOH(CH 2 ) 4 COOH 

 COOH-(CH,) 6 -COOH 

 COOH(CH 2 VCOOH 







M.P. 



180° 



. 





148° 







140° 







127° 







125° 







123° 







118° 



Decamethylendicarboxylic* COOH\CH 2 ) 1( /COOH 

 %-Dicarbododecanic . COOiT(CH 2 ) 12 -COOH 

 w-Dicarbodecahexanic . COOH(CH 2 ) 16 COOH 



It is our intention next to investigate acids with side chains, and unsaturated acids ; and 

 also to perform the electrolysis of mixtures of ethyl-potassium salts. 



* This acid, recently prepared by Noerdlinger (Berichte d. deut. Cham. Ges., 23, 2356, 1890), lias in all probability 

 the normal constitution. 



