— 95 — 



For example from I kilo musk, 5 gm. = o,5°/ crude musk oil 

 were obtained, and from 3 kilos 21,2 gm. = o,7°/ , whilst another 

 consignment yielded 62 gm. = 2,oj°/ Q oil from 3,051 kilos. 



Muskone. The crude musk oil, as obtained by extracting the 

 distillation-water with ether, still contains free fatty acids, and saponific- 

 able constituents (fats). For this reason it was heated, for further 

 purification, for a short time with a small quantity of alcoholic 

 potash, and after separating off and washing with water, fractionated 

 in vacuo. 



After this treatment 62 gm. crude oil distilled as follows: — 

 I. fraction: 65 to 160 at 7 mm. 12,5 gm. 

 II. fraction: 160 to 166 at 7 mm. 36,3 gm. 



There remained back a fairly considerable, brown residue. After 

 fractionating once more we obtained 37,5 gm. (i,2°/ of the musk) of 

 a fraction boiling at 145 to 14 7° at 3 mm pressure, which consisted 

 almost exclusively of the new ketone, for when treated with sodium 

 acetate and semicarbazide hydrochloride, it solidified completely into 

 the solid semicarbazone. 



When this principial fraction was once more submitted to distill- 

 ation, 30 gm. distilled from 142 to 143 at 2 mm. pressure. The 

 remainder passed over up to 145 . 



The constants of the ketone were as follows: boiling point 142 

 to 143 (2 mm. pressure), 327 to 330 (752 mm. pressure), d 15 oo,9268, 



«D IO° 6' n D25 o 1,47900. 



This ketone, to which we have given the name "muskone" is 

 the sole bearer of the natural musk- odour. As it has been freed from 

 all disagreeable secondary odours of the musk-secretion, it reproduces 

 the musk-aroma in a hitherto unknown strength and fineness. Muskone 

 is a colourless viscid oil, which is miscible with alcohol in every 

 proportion. 



The analysis of muskone gave the following values: — 

 I. 0,1202 gm. of the substance: 0,3544 gm C0 2 , 0,1356 gm. H 2 0. 

 II. 0,1593 gm. of the substance: 0,4706 gm. C0 2 , 0,1818 gm. H 2 0. 



Found: Calculated for C 16 H 30 O C 15 H 28 



C 80,41% 80,570/0 8o,57<>/ 80,250/0 



H i2 )54 o/ i2,68o/ 12,700/0 12,600/0 



Nitrogen and sulphur could not be detected in the ketone. 



With hydroxylamine and semicarbazide, muskone forms crystallising 

 compounds. The semicarbazone is specially characteristic, and suitable 

 for the detection. The latter is obtained by mixing 1 gm. muskone 

 with 1 gm. sodium acetate and 1 gm. semicarbazide hydrochloride with 

 a little alcohol into a paste, and letting it stand for some time. When 



