192 H. G. SMITH. 



When fused with potash below 200° 0., phenolic bodies 

 were principally formed, but when the temperature was 

 increased to about 225° the action became more energetic 

 and the principal product was protocatechuic acid, a very 

 small amount of a volatile acid being produced at the same 

 time. The substance thus has a catechol nucleus. 



When more material shall be obtained attempts will be 

 made to determine accurately the arrangement of the 

 atoms in the side chain. The constitution of the remainder 

 of the molecule is shown from the results. 



The oxidation to veratric acid, the formation of proto- 

 catechuic acid on fusion with potash, the presence of one 

 or more asymmetric carbon atoms, together with the other 

 reactions, suggest a structural formula for this substance 

 in agreement with that of several bodies found in plants, 

 all related to a dihydric phenol, the OH groups of which 

 are in the 3 and 4 positions. 



The evidence so far obtained indicates that the crystalline 

 substance which deposits in the timber of Gmelina Leich- 

 hardtii is new to science, and the name Gmelinol is pro- 

 posed for it. 



The molecule of gmelinol is0 ]2 H 14 O4 and the formula may 

 be arranged as follows: — 



C 4 H 5 2 



HC 

 HO 



C 



OH 



OOCH 3 



COCH3 



The exact positions of the atoms in the side chain have 

 not been accurately determined, as they can be arranged, 

 theoretically, in several ways. The one perhaps the most 

 promising from general reactions, particularly the red 



