— 117 — 



A santalol-content of 99,6% must be regarded as exceptionally high for 

 sandalwood oil, even when taking into consideration that Leubner calculates 

 his alcohol-content according to the incorrect formula Ci 5 H 26 0, for when 

 converted to C15H24O the result is still 98,7%. If these figures are really 

 accurate the probability is that the oil contained small quantities of spirit. 



Four of the samples examined by Leubner failed to respond to the 

 requirements of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, which prescribes a sp. gr. of 

 0,965 to 0,980 at 25° and a rotation of —16 to —20°. Nor did these 

 samples exhibit the degree of solubility required (1:5 of 70% alcohol). 

 Three of them were even insoluble in this alcohol. It is remarkable that 

 in spite of this fact these three oils contained a very high percentage of 

 santalol, one showing 94,3% and the two others as much as 98%. At 

 the same time one of the two last-mentioned had a sp. gr. of 0,951 at 25°, 

 which is much too low. These contradictions cannot be explained by the 

 data given by Leubner, but in any case it should be advisable to regard 

 such oils with mistrust, in spite of their apparently high santalol-content. 

 Unfortunately, Leubner does not touch this important question at all. 



We wish in conclusion to call attention to an error into which Leubner 

 has fallen in the description of the acetylation-process. He states that, 

 in order to decompose the excess of acetic acid anhydride, the acetylation- 

 mixture, after the addition of water, should be allowed to stand in the 

 water-bath for several hours. That would be rather too long a time, as 

 it would also cause the partial decomposition of the esters formed. In 

 actual practice the flask should only be left in the water-bath from 10 

 to 15 minutes. 



The manufacture of various preparations from sandalwood oil, or 

 rather from the first runnings of the oil, has afforded us an opportunity of 

 submitting the separate constituents of this oil to closer examination. The 

 various investigators who have occupied themselves with this oil in the 

 course of years had ascertained that, in addition to santalol, its principal 

 constituent, the oil contains a number of other bodies. It would lead us 

 too far to refer in detail to these examinations here 1 ). 



We had at our disposal for examination a first runnings of 11,7 kilos. 

 Of this, the following fractions passed over: 



(I.) Up to 85° (140 mm.) .... 1,24 kilos 

 (II.) From 85 up to 87° (140 mm.) . 3,503 „ 

 (III.) „ 76 „ „ 90o (9 mm.) . . 1,975 „ 

 (IV.) „ 90 „ ,,110° (9 mm.) . . 1,200 „ 

 (V.) „ 110 „ ,,115° (8 mm.) . . 2,080 „ 

 (VI.) „ 115 „ ,,120° (8 mm.) . . 0,700 „ 



*) Comp. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, p. 340; Report October 

 1899, 53; April 1900, 42; October 1900, 57; April 1901, 55; April 1904, 82; October 1907, 84; 

 April 1908, 91; November 1908, 112; April 1909, 83; April 1910, 97. 



