— 120 — 



point 1 3 2°. The last-named acid is readily converted under the 

 action of dilute sulphuric acid into 1,4-methycyclohexanone of the 

 boiling point 170 . The reaction takes place with elimination of 

 carbonic oxide. At the same time, considerable quantities of A±- 

 tetrahydro-p-toluylic acid are formed. With magnesium isopropyliodide 

 the ketone forms tertiary menthol of the boiling point 95 (25 mm. 

 pressure). The alcohol, when heated with potassium bisulphate, splits 

 off water, and is converted into inactive menthene of the boiling 

 point 1 68°. The nitrosochloride of this menthene is solid, and like 

 that of the menthene obtained by Kremers and Urban 1 ), melts 

 at 128 . 



Sesquiterpene alcohols. Eyken 2 ) reports on the occurrence 

 of sesquiterpene alcohols in the distillates of a few aromatic woods 

 of the Malay Archipelago. 



Some considerable time ago van Romburgh had obtained by 

 steam distillation from the "Kajoe garoe" (fragrant wood) of Macassar, 

 whose botanical origin was unknown, an oil interspersed with solid 

 crystals, which Eyken examined more closely. By expressing and 

 purifying the crystals, they were recognised by their melting point 93 °, 

 by analysis, optical rotation M D — 30 , and molecular refraction, as 

 guaiol; a comparison with guaiol from guaiac wood oil confirmed 

 the identity. In the liquid portions of the oil free acids were 

 found, chiefly formic and acetic acids. Subsequently Eyken himself 

 produced the oil by distilling the wood; the latter he suspected to 

 be a conifer, possibly a species of juniper. He obtained the oil in 

 a yield of 1,3%; it soon became solid, but, contrary to the oil first 

 examined, it contained no fractions passing over below the boiling 

 point of guaiol; the fractions boiling higher than guaiol remained also 

 liquid, and thereby rendered it more difficult to work out the latter, 

 which should therefore be obtained not by fractionating, but by freez- 

 ing out. In spite of the differences Eyken considers the two oils to 

 be identical, and attributed the variations to this, that the one oil had 

 been stored for several years, the other one being a fresh distillate. 



The same author obtained a sesquiterpene alcohol differing from 

 those known up to the present, in the course of an examination of 

 the oil of Gonostylus Miquelianus T. et B., the wood of which also has 

 the name "Kajoe garoe". This oil was also solid, and melted towards 

 66° to 68°; boiling point 280 to 290 ; [a] D in absolute alcohol -f"35°- 

 In order to remove resins, the oil in ethereal solution was washed with 

 potash liquor, and after evaporating the ether, distilled twice. When 



x ) Amer. chem. Journ. 16 (1894), 3 8 5; Report April 1894, 72. 

 2 ) Receuil des trav. chim. des P.-B. 25 (1906), 40, 44. Chem. Centralbl. 

 1906, I, 841. 



