1867.] On the Chemical Constitution of Narcotine. 



39 



have not yet obtained this body in sufficient quantity, as it is only very 

 slowly formed. I hope, however, to find a method to produce it in larger 

 quantities, and also to obtain characteristic oxidation-products of the dif- 

 ferent hydrocarbons. 



VII, " Researches into the Chemical Constitution of Narcotine and of 

 its Products of Decomposition/^ — Part 11. By A. Matthiessen^ 

 P.R.S., and G. C. Foster, B.A. Received May 23, 1867. 

 (Abstract.) 



In this memoir the following reactions have been studied : — 



1. The Action of Hydrochloric and Hydriodic Acids on Ojiianic Acid. 



When strong hydrochloric or hydriodic acid acts at 100° for some time 

 on opianic acid, iodide or chloride of methyl is evolved and a new acid 

 formed, 



C,,H, A + HC1= + CH3CI. 



"We propose to call this acid methyl nor-opianic acid, as it stands inter- 

 mediate betw^een opianic acid and the normal opiauic acid : — 



Normal opianic acid C^HgOg 



Methyl nor-opianic acid CgH^Og 



Opianic acid or dimethyl nor-opianic acid. . C^oH^oOg 

 The new acid is soluble in cold water, but much more so in hot, from 

 which it crystallizes on cooling with 2| molecules of water. Like hypo- 

 gallic acid it strikes a dark blue with sesquichloride of iron ; but on addi- 

 tion of ammonia in excess, a light-red solution is produced, differing, there- 

 fore, from the hypogaUic-acid blue, with which ammonia becomes blood- 

 red. From the analysis of the silver-salt it appears that methyl nor- 

 opianic acid is monobasic. 



2. The Action of Hydrochloric and Hydriodic Acids on Meconin. 

 When meconin is heated Avith strong hydrochloric or hydriodic acids at 

 100° for some time, it is split up into chloride or iodide of methyl and an 

 acid of the composition CgH^O^. The reaction is 



C,,H, A+ HC1=C,H A+ CH3CI. 

 This new acid we may call methyl nor-meconic acid, as it stands between 

 meconin and normal meconin : — 



Meconin CjgHj^yO^ 



Methyl nor-meconiu or methyl nor-mecouic acid. Cg Hy 



Normal meconin Cs Hg 



Methyl nor-meconic acid is soluble in cold, but much more so in hot 

 water ; it is easily soluble in alcohol, and slightly so in ether. It reduces 

 solutions of silver-salts in the cold, and behaves with sesquichloride of iron 

 exactly like methyl nor-opianic acid. Prom the analysis of the barium- 

 salt, methyl nor-meconic acid is monobasic. 



