1868.] Capryl Alcohol from Castor-oil 379 



C C 



\/ 



c 

 I 



c 



J 



c, 



and this grouping must therefore also exist in caproic acid and in isoctyl 

 alcohol. To obtain evidence respecting this question, I converted the 

 alcohol into the corresponding hydride by a very simple method, which is a 

 general one, and by which, with the greatest ease, the corresponding 

 hydrocarbon can be obtained from any alcohol. The alcohol was first 

 converted into the iodide, which was brought together with zinc turnings 

 and diluted hydrochloric acid in a flask which was surrounded with cold 

 water. After a few hours the heavy layer of iodide had disappeared, and 

 a light liquid swam on the top. This consisted almost entirely of the 

 hydrocarbon H^^ ; traces of iodide and alcohol whicli still adhered were 

 removed by treating the liquid with sulphuric and nitric acids, and by 

 distilling it over sodium. The pui*^ hydrocarbon boils constantly at 

 124° C, and has the specific gravity 9-7083 at 12°-5. 



0-2870 of this liquid gave 0-8840 CO, and 0*4150 11,0. 



Calculated. 



^ * ^ Found. 



C, 96 84-2 84-0 

 H,, 18 15-8 16-1 



114 100-0 100-1 



As I have shown in my last communication to the Society, a hydro- 

 carbon, having the formula Cg H^g and the boiling-point 123°, contains one 

 carbon atom, which is combined with 3 others, or the carbon atoms are 

 grouped in a similar manner as in the amyl compounds. The structure of 

 isoctyl alcohol will therefore most probably be expressed by the follow- 

 ing formula : — 



CII3 CII3 



\ / 

 \/ 

 CH 



CH, 

 I 



I " 

 CH, 



CHon 



I 



CH. 



oil is inactive. This physical difference is most probably caused by a different arrange- 

 ment of the molecules, and not by a different grouping of the atoms in the molcciQc. 



