1864.] Mr. Williams — Researches on Isomeric Alkaloids, 305 



fractionation having, however, been described in his previous papers, the 

 author does not further enter into them. 



In a previous investigation it was found that in fractionating the bases ■ 

 from cinchonine, there was a tendency in the fractions boiling below chino- 

 line to accumulate in larger quantities between 160° and 166° C. ; and it 

 was found on analysis that the distillate at that point had exactly the per- 

 centage composition of lutidine. The results of the analysis of the base 

 and the platinum-salt pointed unmistakeably to the formula 



The boiling-point of lutidine, according to Dr. Anderson, is 154°; and 

 it would therefore appear as if the base from cinchonine had a slightly 

 higher boiling-point, but the author states that he does not draw any 

 inference from that or any other isolated fact. 



Physical Properties of the Bases, — Both bases, when pure, are colour- 

 less refractive oils, lutidine having a density of 0*9467 at 0°, and the cin- 

 chonine base (which the author distinguishes by the name of ,i3-lutidine) 

 of 0'9555 at the same temperature. Lutidine boils at 154°, /3-lutidine be- 

 tween 163° and 168°. 



Lutidine dissolves readily on shaking in three or four times its bulk of 

 water ; and, on warming, the liquid immediately becomes milky, and the 

 base separates, ^-lutidine, on the contrary, requires not less than twenty- 

 five parts of water for solution, and does not present any signs of the very 

 characteristic reaction of lutidine on warming the solution; on the con- 

 trary, a mixture of water and /3-lutidine, cloudy from excess of base, clears 

 on warming. 



Lutidine has a most characteristic smell, resembling that of its lower 

 homologues, but less pungent, and more approaching to aromatic. This 

 smell is never altered in the least by any methods of purification. After 

 boiling with nitric, chromic, or any other acid, the organic smell is given 

 off on neutralization with an alkali. All its salts, however purified, have 

 the same smell on the addition of an alkali. 



(i'lutidine has also a most characteristic smell, having not the faintest 

 resemblance to that of lutidine. It cannot well be described, but, if any- 

 thing, reminds one of nicotine ; but it is without the peculiar pungency of that 

 base. It is also far more pleasant. No treatment with acids or oxidizing 

 reagents, and no amount of purification of its salt, causes the least alteration 

 in the smell, or makes it approach, however distantly, to that of lutidine. 



The vapour-density of lutidine, boiling at 154°, was determined by Dr. 

 Anderson at 201°, and found to be 3-839. 



The vapour- density of /3-lutidine, boiling between 163° and 168°, was 

 determined, for the purpose of this investigation, at 213°, and found to be 

 3787. Theory requires 3-699. 



From these numbers some important inferences may be drawn. It will 

 be seen that the vapour-density, by experiment, is lower in the case of 

 j3-lutidine than in that of lutidine, although the former has a higher boil- 



