64 



Mr. E. A. Letts on a new Method [Dec. 5, 



Theory. Experiment. 



C 4 48 69-56 68-93 



H 7 7 1044 10-53 



N 14 20-30 



69 100-00 



Boiled for some time with an alkali, this nitrile is converted into isobutyric 

 acid and ammonia. The complementary products attending the produc- 

 tion of this body are carbonic anhydride and sulphuretted hydrogen, 

 the copious evolution of which has been already mentioned : 

 HCNS + C 4 H 7 O . OH = C 4 1I 7 N + C0 2 + H 2 S . 



Isobutyronitrile has been prepared by MorkownikofE *. He obtained it 

 by treating isopropyl iodide with cyanide of potassium ; but probably not in 

 a state of purity, as he gives 80° as its boiling-point, whereas 107-108° 

 (the number obtained by myself) approaches more closely that observed 

 for the normal butyronitrile (114°). 



The crystalline substance before described as passing over between 

 216° and 220° is the amide of isobutyric acid : 



C 4 H 9 NO = °4 H ^ 1 1ST. 



The analysis gave : — 



Theory. Experiment. 



C 4 48 55-17 54-86 



H 9 9 10-35 10-45 



N 14 16-09 



O 16 18-39 



87 100-00 



Isobutyramide forms a white crystalline mass of pleasant aromatic odour ; 

 it fuses between 100° and 102°, and when heated somewhat above this tem- 

 perature, but far short of its boiling-point, sublimes in beautiful iridescent 

 laminae. It boils between 216° and 220°, and distils without the slightest 

 decomposition. It dissolves readily in water and alcohol, and slightly in 

 ether. Isobutyramide is the principal product of the action of isobutyric 

 acid on potassium sulphocyanate : 



HCN^ + C 4 H 7 O.OH=°4 H ^ Jbt + COS. 



200 grms. of the acid yielded 60 grms. pure amide. 



H-C=(CH a ) 2 

 Isobutyramide, > , 



= C-N=H 2 



is distinguished from the normal amide, 



H 2 = C-CH 2 -CH 3 

 1 



= C-N=H 2 

 * Morkownikoff, Jahresb. xviii. 318. 



