272 



Dr. Hofmann on Transformations of 



[Feb. 4, 



riably obtained. If the spirit which is employed in dissolving the mustard- 

 oil to be reduced be dilute, a fine crystallization of the sulphaldehyde is 

 frequently observed after the lapse of a few hours. Together with this 

 compound allylamine is generated in large proportion. The principal reac- 

 tion is thus seen to be exactly the same as with ethylic mustard-oil. 



c ^}n+2H h= c A I n + c h 2 s. 



The sulphuretted hydrogen would therefore likewise belong to a secondary 

 reaction. Vainly, however, have I endeavoured to trace in the mother- 

 liquor of the allylamine-platinum salt the existence of the platinum com- 

 pound of a second base — of methyl-allylamine for instance ; though working 

 on a rather large scale, I was unable to detect even a trace of such a com- 

 pound. The origin of the sulphuretted hydrogen, however, could not be 

 doubtful. In the gas evolved during the reaction, a large amount of a 

 gaseous hydrocarbon (very probably marsh-gas) was present, as could be 

 easily proved by burning the gas, after an appropriate purification, with 

 oxide of copper. 



C 



cs 



1 N + 4 H H = ° 3 } N + C H 4 + H 2 S . 



Action of Hydrogen in condicione nascendi upon Hydrosidphocyanic Acid. 



It would have been strange if in the course of these researches I had 

 omitted to investigate the action of zinc and hydrochloric acid upon sul- 

 phocyanide of potassium. The result of this experiment could scarcely be 

 doubtful — evolution of sulphuretted hydrogen in torrents, copious sepa- 

 ration of sulphuretted methylic aldehyde, in the residue ammonia and me- 

 thylamine. The reaction is not without interest, since the hydrosulpho- 

 cyanic acid liberated by the hydrochloric acid exhibits the principal meta- 

 morphosis both of mustard-oil and the isomeric sulphocyanide of ethyl. 



^ |n + 2H H=H 3 K +CH 2 S, 



js + HH =HCN + H a S. 



Hydrocyanic acid, it is true, is not directly observed in this case ; but we 

 meet with its hydrogen-derivative, methylamine. 



Together with the behaviour of these bodies under the influence of redu- 

 cing agents, I have studied the action of water and of acids upon the mus- 

 tard-oils and the ethers isomeric with them. 



Action of Water and Hydrochloric Acid upon Ethylic Mustard-oil. 



When exposed in sealed tubes together with water to a temperature of 

 200° for eight or ten hours, ethylic mustard-oil splits up into ethylamine, 

 carbonic acid, and sulphuretted hydrogen. The idea naturally suggests 

 itself that two water-molecules act in succession. Under the influence of 



