— 96 — 



in aqueous alcohol, but makes a clear mixture with its own vol. of ab- 

 solute alcohol. It contains \°/o alcohols, to the presence of which its 

 aromatic odour is perhaps due. The low- boiling portions of the oil 

 contain 1-ec-pinene (m. p. of the nitrosochloride 108°; m. p. of the nitroso- 

 pinene 132°). In addition, the oil probably contains a sesquiterpene 

 (d^o 0,9209; «d + 3,4°; n D23 o 1,5065) which gives a red coloration when 

 dissolved in chloroform with sulphuric acid. When the terpene, dissolved 

 in chloroform, is treated with bromine, a green colour appears, which 

 first changes into dark green and finally into indigo blue. The distillation 

 residue contained a crystalline, colourless body; m. p. 95°, [«] D -j- 16,06°. 

 Analysis gave the formula C20H32, which was confirmed by the de- 

 termination of the molecular weight. The chloroform-solution gives no 

 colour reaction with sulphuric acid. 



The authors believe that the hydrocarbon has been formed from 2 mo- 

 lecules of pinene, and regard it as a diterpene; they have given it the 

 name of phyllocladene. Phyllocladene is hardly attacked by bichromate 

 of potash, but it reacts with chromic acid in acetic acid solution. 

 With concentrated sulphuric acid it gives a nitro compound which melts, 

 not very sharply, at 115 to 120°. It is soluble in concentrated sulphuric 

 acid and is not attacked by neutral permanganate solution. Bromine is 

 first absorbed in glacial acetic acid, but very soon begins to exert a sub- 

 stituting action. Phyllocladene, therefore, appears to be a saturated body. 



Pimento Oil. Although pimento has been procurable at very ad- 

 vantageous prices, which even afforded fair prospects for speculation, it 

 so happened that quality suitable for distillation has been extremely scarce. 

 Hence we have been compelled to raise our quotations a little, although 

 possibly only for the time being. 



Pine-needle Oils. The exquisite Siberian pine-needle oil has conquered 

 the attention of consumers by storm, on account of its pleasant odour, 

 its low price and the small quantity required to produce a result. For 

 all these reasons it now occupies without any doubt the premier position 

 among pine-needle oils. Its services in scenting substitutes for turpentine 

 oil and all other cheap technical preparations are invaluable, and owing 

 to the strong demand for turpentine substitutes in consequence of the 

 enormous prices of the oil, a very brisk trade in Siberian pine-needle oil 

 has resulted as a matter of course. Our stocks, which were considerable, 

 have been drawn upon to a very large extent, and prices have become 

 correspondingly firmer. Unfortunately requirements can only be covered 

 in the producing districts during the summer-months, because owing to 

 the snow all communication with these regions is interrupted during 

 the winter. The oil is distilled chiefly in April and May, and we can 

 therefore hardly expect fresh supplies before the end of May. For the 

 present it is uncertain whether our stocks will hold out until that time. 



