1868.] On the Hijdrocarhons of the Sei^les G,j V[2n {2' 



367 



When acetone is saturated with hydrochloric acid, several condensed 

 compounds are formed, which remain in union with the acid. The ques- 

 tion now arises, which of these compounds generate the acid we have just 

 been studying ? and which the neutral body ? In the hope of determining 

 this point, I prepared the two most important of these compounds in a 

 state of purit}^, namely oxide of mesityle and phoron, and saturated them 

 with hydrochloric acid gas. After the lapse of twelve hours the two satu- 

 rated bodies were well washed with water, and treated separately with 

 cyanide of potassium and caustic potash in the manner I have just de- 

 scribed. The results were decisive. The mesityle compound yielded the 

 acid, and the phoron compound the neutral body. The following equa- 

 tions will explain the formation of the acid : — 



C,H,,0 + 2HC1-C,H,,0C1,, 

 C, H,, OCl, + 2 KCy = C, H,, OCy, + 2 KCl, 



and 



C„ H,,eCy,+^ } 0+ g } 0=C, H„ KN03+NH, 



Potash-salt of 

 new acid. 



It will be observed that only one of the cyanogen atoms is transformed 

 into COOK. 



The foregoing derivatives of acetone are, I think, in many respects very 

 remarkable bodies. I therefore propose to submit them to a careful study. 

 I propose also to ascertain whether or not the true aldehydes yield analo- 

 gous bodies when treated in a similar manner. 



III. Researches on the Hydrocarbons of the Series C^jHaw-j-o. — - 

 No. IV.'' By C. ScHORLEMMER. Commuuicated by Prof. G. 

 G. Stokes. Received April 13, 1868. 



On the relation between Boiling-point and Chemical Structure. 



It is from researches published only during last year that we have ob- 

 tained a more definite knowledge of the chemical structure of some of the 

 hydrocarbons of the above series, so that we are enabled to explain the 

 mode in which the carbon atoms are united. This has been achieved by 

 obtaining these hydrocarbons by synthesis from other compounds, the 

 structure of which is perfectly well known. 



Thus Friedel and Ladenburg* prepared, by acting upon metiivlchlor- 



acetol, C < CH3, with zincethyl, the hydrocarbon C„ 11^^, which they call 



CH 



carbdimethyldicthylj and which has the Btrnrture ^ {q, Hj- Butlerowf 

 * Ann. der Clicm. nnd Pliarm. vol, c^lii. p. 310. I Ibid. vol. cxliv. p. 10. 



