- 87 - 



with two isomeric y -hydroxy zsopiopyl methyl cyclopentane carboxylic 

 acids (?). The authors have very thoroughly investigated the com- 

 plicated relationships which exist between the first four acids, and 

 they treat at great length of their properties, their chemical behaviour, 

 their convertibility one into the other and their separation. It would 

 carry us too far to explain all these phases here, and it may suffice 

 to point out that these acids represent as- trans- S- hydroxy a-cyclo- 

 and cis -trans- b- hydroxy ft - cyclogeraniolane carboxylic acids of the 

 following composition 1 ): — 



m. p. 157 to 158 m. p. 151 to 152 



m.p.145 



m.p.154 to 155" 



CH,- 



-CH 3 CH 3 - 



-COOH — 



-CH 3 — 



-OH OH — 



-CH 3 



-COOH 



-CH Q 



CH 3 - 

 COOH- 



OH- 



■CH, 



-CH, 



CH 3 — 

 COOH — 



-CH 3 



-CH 3 

 -OH 



trans 



trans 



d-hydroxy a-cycloacid ^-hydroxy /?-cycloacid 



Among these, the trans-a and the w-/?-acids are very prone to 

 give off water and thus to become converted into the two stereo- 

 isomeric zf 3 -cyclogeranic acids 2 ). On the other hand, the two re- 

 maining acids energetically resist dehydrating agents. The conversion 

 of zlg-cyclogeranic acid into J 3 -cyclocitral takes place by the method 

 indicated above for zJ 4 -cyclocitral. With acetone the aldehyde yields 

 a condensation product of an odour somewhat reminding of irone, 

 which the authors therefore call a-irone. Detailed particulars as to 

 the properties of the two perfumes, a- and /Mrone, as well as of the 

 bodies from which they are built up, the cyclogeranic acids, cyclo- 

 citrals and their intermediary compounds shall be given in the next 

 paper. 



Palmarosa Oil. In anticipation of the crop which is now begin- 

 ning to be gathered, prices have given way by about io°/ , but much 

 more liberal offers are required in order to bring the quotations 

 below 6/-. In the meantime there are very few firm offers. 



According to cable report which has recently been received, the 

 monsoon is said to have been unfavourable and to have adversely 

 affected the new crop. . 



We are again indebted to the kindness of Mr. J. H. Burkill, of the 

 Indian Museum, at Calcutta, for a description founded upon his own 

 observations of the manner in which "rusa oil" is obtained in the district 



*) The designations cis and trans refer to the reciprocal positions of carboxyl 

 and hydroxyl. 



*) Germ. Pat. No. 148206. 



