— 200 — 



pentamethylene-rings took place, and resulted in the formation of the 



/CH (C H^k 

 amide of dimethyl campholic acid, CoH ld < , b.p.170 



7 8 u \C0NH 2 F /V 



to 180 (14 mm.); m. p. 72 to 73 ; H D in alcoholic solution -J- 70,8°. 

 The free acid which (like all trialkyl acetic acids), could not be 

 prepared from the amide by saponification with potash, was obtained 

 from the sulphuric acid solution of the amide by treatment with sodium 

 nitrite solution and heating to about 6o°. The acid, which was very 

 readily soluble, melted at 73 to 74 ; Wd -f-47,4 . 



In order to ascertain the place where the pentacyclic ring had 

 opened the acid was oxidised with permanganate, as besides resulting 

 in the acid mentioned above, the disruption of the ring might also 

 have resulted in an acid 



CH,— CH— C(CH,) 2 



CH„.C-CH q 



I 

 CH 2 — CH COOH. 



CH 3 

 In the event of the disruption having resulted in an acid of the first- 

 mentioned formula, the tertiary H-atom at the dimethylated C-atom 

 should be converted into hydroxyl, and, by the splitting-off of water, 



C(CH 3 ) 2 



a dimethyl campholide C 8 H 14 <^ \0 be formed, which, upon further 



CO 



oxidation, should yield camphoric acid. An acid of the second formula 

 could not yield camphoric acid when oxidised. The experiment re- 

 sulted in an acid which differed from camphoric acid, and from 

 which carbon dioxide was given off when heated. But owing to its 

 scarcity it was impossible to identify this acid. 



The authors intend to continue their research into this reaction, 

 especially as regards the formation of methyl camphor, methyl borneol 

 and the higher alkylated homologues of these two bodies. As stated 

 above, the dialkylated derivatives can be separated from their mono- 

 alky lated homologues. 



Fenchone. Bouveault and Levallois *) have continued their research 

 on the synthesis of fenchone and its derivatives 2 ). In a previous pub- 

 lication, Bouveault and Blanc 3 ) had already demonstrated that the 

 only difference between fenchone and camphenilone, and between di- 



*) Comp. Report April 1908, 189. 



2 ) Compt. rend. 148 (1909), 1399 and 1524. 



8 ) Comp. Report April 1908, 191. 



