1864.] 



derived from Coal-tar. 



487 



little stability, splitting up into their constituents under the influence of 

 water, of heat, and even by mere exposure in vacuo. In contact with nitric 

 acid the crystals at once assume a blue coloration, with an admixture of 

 green, but nevertheless so similar to the analogous colour-reaction of 

 diphenylamine, that by this test alone the two substances could not pos- 

 sibly be distinguished. The two bases differ, however, essentially in their 

 solubility, their fusing- and boiling-points, and lastly in their composition. 

 The new base is far less soluble in alcohol than diphenylamine ; it fuses 

 only at 87° C, while the fusing-point of diphenylamine is 45° C. ; the 

 boiling-point of the new base is 334"5° C. (corr.), at which temperature 

 it distils without any decomposition, while diphenylamine boils at 310° 

 (corr.). 



The results of analysis lead to the formula 



A hydrochlorate, crystallizing in little plates, and obtained by the addition 

 of concentrated hydrochloric acid to an alcoholic solution of the base, when 

 dried over lime, was found to contain 



C,3H,3N,HC1. 



Formation and chemical deportment characterize the new base as the 

 mixed secondary monamine of the phenyl- and tolyl- series, as phenyltolyl- 

 amine*, 



c,3H,3N=c,h,In. 



In consequence of the simultaneous existence in the molecule of the new 

 base of the radicals phenyl and tolyl, its deportment under the influence 

 of dehydrogenating agents became of considerable interest ; and indeed, 

 having recognized the nature of the compound, my first experiment con- 

 sisted in submitting it to the action of corrosive sublimate. Both substances 

 unite to form a dark brown mass which, after having been heated, dis- 

 solves in alcohol with a magnificent violet-blue colour. The compound thus 

 produced exhibits the behaviour of the colouring matters generated from 

 rosaniline by substitution. Owing to the peculiar properties of this class of 

 substances, it would be difficult to prepare the new compound in sufficient 



* It deserves to be noticed that the percentages of carbon in diphenylamine, 

 phenyltolyl amine, and ditolylamine nearly coincide. 



Diphenylamine. Phenyltolylamine. Ditolylamine. 



Carbon 85-21 85-24 85-28 



Hydi'ogen 6-51 7'10 7*61 



The percentages of hydrogen, however, unequivocally distinguish the three 

 compounds. The analysis of phenyltolylamine furnished the following numbers : 



I. II. 



Carbon 85*10 85-11 



Hydrogen ... 7*30 7'33 



