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Java citronella oil has continued to be available in such ample quantities 

 that we have even been enabled somewhat to reduce our prices. We 

 beg to seize this occasion to call attention to the exquisite quality of 

 our brand, which for delicacy of aroma and richness of yield is unsurpassed. 

 We are regularly in receipt of important consignments, and for the present 

 are still in a position to make special quotations for large quantities. 



A method for the acetylation of citronella which originally appeared 

 in the Chemist and Druggist 1 ), and which has recently been reprinted in an 

 American contemporary 2 ), has inspired a searching criticism by C. Kleber ;i ). 

 First of all Kleber corrects the assertion which is made in the description 

 of this method that the acetate of sodium is added for the purpose of 

 absorbing the water formed in the course of esterification with acetic 

 anhydride. As a matter of fact, the sodium acetate merely plays the part 

 of a catalyser, for since no water whatever is formed in the course of 

 the reaction, none can be absorbed. Moreover, every trace of water which 

 might be present would be absorbed, not by the sodium acetate, but by 

 the acetic anhydride, with generation of a corresponding quantity of acetic 

 acid; hence, in order to obviate errors, Kleber expressly recommends the 

 use of fused instead of dry sodium acetate, on the ground that the ordinary 

 crystalline salt, although it looks dry, in fact contains 3 molecules of 

 water of crystallisation, which would effect the decomposition of a portion 

 of the acetic anhydride. 



Further, according to Kleber it is impracticable to wash out the acetylated 

 product with water, because too many washings would be required to 

 remove the acid completely. The object is much more quickly attained, 

 he states, by shaking once with a solution of common salt, running off 

 the aqueous solution, and completing the neutralising process with a 

 10° o carbonate of soda solution, which should be added in small portions, 

 the mixture being vigorously shaken each time. The completion of the 

 reaction is indicated by the cessation of pressure in the separating funnel 

 after shaking 4 ). 



When the oil has been acetylated and washed out it must not be 

 dried with anhydrous sodium ^sulphate, as laid down in the Chemist and 

 Druggist, but with anhydrous sodium sulphate, because the first-named 

 agent, owing to its acid properties, might split up the geranyl esters. 

 Warming on the water-bath also is not only superfluous but positively 

 objectionable. Half an hour is not enough to saponify the ester which 

 is formed; the oil should be left upon the water-bath at least one hour, 

 two hours is still better. 



J ) Chemist and Druggist 77 (1910), 896. Also comp. Report April 1911, 46. 

 2 ) Americ. Perfumer 6 (1911), 86. 

 ; ) Ibidem 116. 



*) Comp. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, Die citherischen die, 2 nd Ed. Vol.1, p. 595. 



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