40 



On the Chemical Constitution of Narcotine. [June 20, 



3. The Action of Hydrochloric and Hydriodic Acids on 

 Hemipinic Acid. 



The action of hydriodic acid on hemipinic acid has been already described 

 in our former communication. The reaction which takes place was found 

 to be 



C,,H,,0, + 2HI = CO, 4- 2CH3I + C,H,0,. 

 The body C^HgO^ we called hypogalHc acid. 



It was also mentioned that when hydrochloric acid acts on liemipinic 

 acid the following reaction takes place : — \ 

 C,,H,,0, + HC1= CO, + CH3CI + CsHsO,. 



The formula CgHgO^ has been confirmed by further analyses, and from 

 the analysis of its silver-salt we have shown it to be a monobasic acid. 

 This acid may be called methyl-hypogallic acid, as it contains one molecule 

 of methyl more than the hypogaUic acid, and may be converted into that 

 acid by the prolonged action of hydrochloric acid on it. 



4. Whilst experimenting with hemipinic acid we found that this acid 

 may crystallize in diiferent forms. The crystals were found to contain dif- 

 ferent amounts of water ; thus when it crystallizes from a dilute solution 

 by spontaneous evaporation, the crystals contain half a molecule of water ; 

 when from a supersaturated solution, they contain one molecule ; and lastly, 

 when crystallized in the ordinary way by cooling a hot solution, they con- 

 tain two and a half molecules. 



From the experiments here, as well as those in our former paper, it ap- 

 pears that the following compounds derived from opianic acid will be found 

 to exist : — 



C,„H„0, C„H„0. C„H„0, 



IHmetliyl nor-meconin Dimethyl nor-opianic acid Dimethyl nor-hemipinic acid 

 (ordinary meconin). (ordinary opianic acid). (ordinary hemipinic acid). 



CgHsO, C^HsO, C^HgOe 



Methyl nor-meconin. Methyl nor-opianic acid. Methyl nor-hemipinic acid. 



C3H3O, C3H3O, C3H3O, 



Nor-meconin. Nor-opianic acid. Nor-hemipinic acid. 



CsHsO, C8H3O3 CsHsO, 



JMethyl hypogallic acid. 



C,H,0, CH.O^ C,H.O, 



HypogaUic acid. 

 Of the above, the following have been prepared : — 



1. C^qHio^, C^H^QOg by the action of potash on opianic acid ; thus 



2C,AoOa==C,H,,0,-HC,,H,,0,. 



2. Cgllj^O^ by the action of hydrochloric and hydriodic acids on meco- 

 nin ; thus, 



C„H,„+m=C,H30, + CH3l. 



3. CgHgOg by the action of hydrochloric or hydriodic acids on opianic 

 acid ; thus, 



C,,H, A + H I=C\HA + C H3I. 



