4 
% was identified. The high- biting: point fractions contained a sesquiterpene Cy5Ha, (b. p. 
Tw a 
— 
>. 
e. 
S 
- 
4 
b 
~ 125—128° at 12 mm. pressure); di 0.9259; ap1s0-+2.16°; npwo 1.5162. Phenolic consti- — 
tuents were not contained in this oil as in the oils of other Mosla species. 
Mustard Oil.—In examining various kinds of mustard seed A. Cauda‘) found that 
those of the black mustard Brassica nigra, Koch, contained more volatile mustard oil 
than those of Brassica carinata, A. Braun, and Sinapis alba, L. Also the amount of 
volatile oil is said to be greatest in plants from the northern districts and in plants 
with small seeds. 
This work generally confirms the results of Caries investigations’). But it should be 
mentioned that a higher amount (1.07 to 1.17 per cent.) of volatile oil was found®) also in 
seeds of black mustard from southern countries, as East India (Bombay) and Greece. 
O. Aschan*) published a paper on allyl compounds. These substances occupy 
a special position amongst the other groups of the fatty series in so far as they 
contain the ethylene radicle in direct combination with the simply substituted methyl 
radicle. The vinyl radicle stipulates the additive property, and the other characteristic 
transformations of the ethylene bodies, lessens however the bond of the methylene 
roup for negative atoms and radicles, which consequently can only bind weakly the 
aldehyde group. Aschan succeeded in obtaining the diformylester («- and @-form) of 
glycerin, by heating together glycerin and 93 to 95 per cent. formic acid, which 
easily changed into allyl formate by splitting off water and CO, at 190-to 260°. Allyl 
formate is a suitable and cheap raw material for the preparation of allylalcohol and 
other allyl compounds. The process which produces 60 to 70 per cent. of the theoretical 
yield of allyl formate, and permits of the recovery of large quantities of 30 to 50 per cent. 
formic acid by distillation, is suitable for the production of the ester on a large scale. 
CH,-O-HCO CH, CH,:OH 
mica IEG: | “ECO, 
CH-OH Me es OH 221004) CH: O-HCO 
| —H,0 | HO | 
CH,-O-HCO CH,-O-CHO CH,-0-HCO 
_@-Diformin. Ally! formate. 6-Diformin. 
Allyl formate is a very reactive compound on account of the ethylene and carbonyl 
bonds in the molecule. Thus with concentrated caustic soda solution or milk of lime 
in a pasty condition up to 85 per cent. of allyl alcohol is ‘obtained from the ester. 
Ally! chloride can also be obtained by passing HCl into the boiling ester in the presence 
of zinc chloride. Thus a new reaction for the formation of aliphatic halogen compounds ~ 
- is found. Aschan assumes for explanation of the reaction that the ester oxygen easily 
assumes quadrivalency, since it is in direct combination with the allyl group, and the 
likewise unsaturated keto group in the formic acid residue; then a splitting up into 
formic acid and allyl halogen takes place. 
HC ON He = CH: CH.CI-+H-COOH. 
By the action of water-free oxalic acid on allyl formate, acid allyl oxalate was | 
formed and small quantities of the neutral dially! oxalate as by-product. Upon the 
1) Staz. sperim. ayrar. ital. 52 (1919), 122. As per Chem. Zentralbl. 1919, Ill. 342. — 2) Cf. Report Oct. 
1915, 29. — %) Cf. Report 1916, 38. — *) Oefver: Ak af Finska Vetenskaps-Societetens Firhandlingar 61 (1918/19). 
_ Afd. A. Nr. 8. 
