1863.] 



Oxy-radicals of Du and Tri-atomic Alcohols, 



4.7 



The ether of this acid is readily prepared by passing hydrochloric acid 

 gas through its solution in absolute alcohol. On evaporating the alcohol 

 an oily residue was obtained, which was washed with a solution of car- 

 bonate of soda and distilled. The greater portion passed over between 

 295° and 300° Cent. The analysis of this portion gave numbers which 

 IT 



indicate the formula C^g (Q^H.) — 



Theory. Experiment. 



I. II. 

 a, .... 52-94 54-61 54-32 



']8 



.... 7-84 8-09 6-91 



.... 39-22 



100-00 



This ether suffers partial decomposition durhig distillation ; hence the 

 discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental numbers in the first 

 analysis. The specimen which served for the second was not distilled at 

 all, but simply purified by solution in ether. It is a colourless neutral oil 

 with a very acrid taste. It is somewhat soluble in water. Heated with 

 solid potash it yields alcohol, and the acid is regenerated. I regret to say 

 I have not succeeded in obtaining the cyanide (Cg Hg ^2 ^72)^ which gene- 

 rates this acid, in a state of purity. 



The compositions of the ether and silver-salt of this acid prove it to be 

 bibasic. It is highly probable that the basicity of an acid produced in 

 this way depends on the atomicity of the radical in the cyanide which 

 generates it. If this be so, the cyanides of the mono-, di- and tri-atomic 

 radicals of the glycols and glycerines should then yield by decomposition 

 with potash respectively mono-, bi- and tri-basic acids. If it would be pos- 

 sible to prepare the acid Og from the cyanide Cg Cy, it would 

 be interesting to examine its bearing on this point. Would it prove mono- 

 basic or bibasic ? 



This acid bears the same relation to pyrotartaric that malic bears to 

 succinic acid : — • 



Succinic acid . . , . Cg Og Pyrotartaric acid .... C^^ Hg O3 



Malic acid Cg Hg O^o New acid Ck, Hg O^^ 



It has the composition of the homologue of malic acid. Whether it is 

 actually the homologue of that acid or not I cannot yet say. I propose to 

 call it oxy-pyrotartaric acid. Formulated according to the carbonic acid 

 type it is thus written : — 



2H0,C,H„0," {§o:}^>- 

 We may now, I think, safely answer in the affirmative the questions put 

 at the commencement of this Paper. The cyanides of the oxy-radicals of 

 the di- and tri-atomic alcohols can be formed, and the action of the potash 

 on these cyanides is analogous to its action on the ordinary cyanides. 



