- 69 — 



ducers, to point out in the first place that the crops follow each other at 

 comparatively short intervals, and, secondly, that the exports of Reunion 

 geranium oil this year again show a considerable increase. The figures 

 are as follows: — 



January to July 1910 == 44140 kilos 

 „ ' „ „ 1909 = 32870 „ 

 Therefore, even if the crop which is now proceeding were to yield 

 an unfavourable result, it is probable that the total output for the year 1909, 

 equalling about 57000 kilos, will again be approximately reached. 



In addition to the constituents of geranium oil discovered by us some 

 years ago 1 ), we succeeded in proving the presence of some more alcoholic 

 bodies in the said oil. We made the interesting observation that fractions 

 containing «-terpineol, a body of which the occurrence in geranium oil 

 had not yet been proved, likewise contained phenylethyl alcohol, an im- 

 portant constituent of rose oil. This body was isolated in the form of its 

 calcium chloride compound from fractions which had previously been com- 

 bined with phthalic acid anhydride and which consisted mainly of citronellol. 

 Odour and physical constants indicated its identity with phenylethyl alcohol: 

 b. p. 91 to 92° (4 to 5 mm.), 219 to 220° (atmospheric press.), d 15 o 1,0240, 

 n D 2oo 1,5379. The phenylurethane, m. p. 80°, was characteristic of phenyl- 

 ethyl alcohol. This alcohol occurs in geranium oil only to a very slight 

 extent. 



Although the presence of «-terpineol, m. p. 35°, could be proved without 

 a doubt, it was found impossible to separate out the alcohol in the solid 

 form. The reason of this was probably due to a not inconsiderable admixture 

 of a body with the same b. p. A fraction boiling at 80 to 81 (4 to 5 mm.) 

 and with di 5 o 0,9397 yielded a solid nitrosochloride, m. p. 114 to 115°, as well 

 as a phenylurethane, m. p. 109 to 111°. When oxidised with permanganate 

 under cooling by ice the trihydroxy-terpane, m.p. 121 to 122°, b.p. 165 to 175° 

 (6 mm.) was formed. This glycerol in its turn, when treated with chromic 

 acid in glacial acetic acid, yielded the characteristic ketolactone, m. p. 

 62 to 63°. By distillation with hydrochloric acid the glycerol was converted 

 into carvenone (semicarbazone, m. p. 203 to 204°). These data, which 

 point to the presence of «-terpineol, were confirmed by the formation of 

 terpine hydrate, m.p. 117°, when the oil was shaken up with dilute sulphuric 

 acid. Citronellol formed the principal part of the geranium oil fraction 

 which was examined ; in addition thereto we found traces of menthol and 

 small proportions of an alcohol possessing a peculiar odour reminding 

 somewhat of borneol. Repeated attempts to find a terpinenol (the belief 

 in the presence of which appeared to be warranted from the physical 

 properties) failed in their object. The investigation is being continued. 



») Report April 1904, 55. 



