276 Mr. G. 8S. Walpole. Zhe Action of [Oct. 22, 
recrystallised from acetone, were flexible, well defined, violet in colour, of 
great lustre, and melted at 155° to 156°, thus agreeing in every respect with 
the compound described by Pechmann.* 
0:2613 grm. gave 47°25 c.c. Ne (moist) at 17° and 763. 8 mm. 
Found N = 21 per cent. Calculated for CigHigNu, N = 21°4 per cent. 
On reduction with phenylhydrazine the osazone melting at 245° is 
immediately re-obtained. All these reactions were also obtained with a few 
grammes of diacetyl prepared from methylacetoacetic ester. 
Dioxime from Diacetyl—Two grammes of crude glycol were converted into 
diacetyl by the method described and after reaction with hydroxylamine 
hydrochloride, 30 per cent. of the amount of oxime theoretically obtainable 
was isolated in the pure condition. This melted at 135°5 to 136°5, 
thus agreeing with the dioxime prepared from diacetyl obtained from 
methylacetoacetic ester. It gave the well-known dimethylglyoxime reaction 
with small quantities of nickel.t The yield of diacetyl by oxidation of the 
crude glycol, taken in conjunction with the constancy of boiling point, 
percentage composition, and molecular weight determination, are conclusive 
evidence that the substance is nearly pure 2:3-butanediol. The further 
confirmation of this by actually separating the purified diol from its 
diphenylurethane is described later (p. 281). 
(2) Oxidation with Semi-normal and Normal Nitric Acid at 100°.—Among 
the products of oxidation were found carbon dioxide, acetaldehyde, small 
quantities of acetylmethylcarbinol and diacetyl, acetic ‘acid, and inactive 
lactic acid. The last two substances were identified by the composition of 
their barium and zinc salts respectively :— 
Acetic Acid.— 
3°535 grm. of barium salt gave 3°1479 germ. of BaSQOx. 
Equivalent weight of acid is 60°5, Acetic acid, C2Hs4O2 = 60. 
Lactic Acid.— 
0:4787 grm. crystallised zine salt gave 0°3908 grm. anhydrous zinc salt and 
01329 grm. ZnO. 
0:1250 grm. erystallised zinc salt gave 0°3908 grm. anhydrous zine salt and 
00341 grm. ZnO. 
H,0 = 18°36 per cent. ZnO = 34:00 per cent. 
Zn(C3H;03)2.3H20 requires H20 = 18:15: ZnO = 33°45 per cent. 
No oxalate or tartrate was present. : 
* vy. Pechmann, ‘ Ber.,’ 1888, vol. 21, p. 2755. 
t+ Tsugaeff, ‘ Ber.,’ 1905, vol. 38, pp. 2520—2522. 
