1873.] 



On Normal Primary Heptyl Alcohol. 



393 



in the specific gravities. The cold stratum mentioned on 23rd, 24th, and 

 26th August was wanting. 



Black-Sea Temperatures. 



Endeavours were made to get a series of densities and temperatures in 

 the Black Sea, in order to ascertain the conditions at all depths. 



The steam cutter with much difficulty, not unattended with danger, 

 obtained an offing o£ six miles on the 17th of October. 



The wind was strong and the sea high, but time would not allow of 

 choice of days, and the N.E. wind was almost permanent. 



The results obtained show a uniform density of 1*012 from surface to 

 bottom in a depth of 38 fathoms. 



Temperatures showed great decrease at the bottom, and the cold 

 stratum observed on the 23rd, 24th, and 26th of August was found 

 here also. 



X. " Normal Primary Heptyl Alcohol." By Harry Grimshaw 

 and Carl Schorlemmer, F.R.S. Received May 6, 1873. 



One of us has shown that by oxidizing the primary heptyl alcohol from 

 normal heptane acid is formed, which is identical with cenanthylic acid 

 from cenanthol*. (Enanthylic acid is therefore a normal acid ; and as by 

 the distillation of castor-oil any quantity of cenanthol may be obtained, this 

 aldehyde appears to be the best starting-point for the preparation of the 

 hitherto almost unknown normal heptyl compounds. 



Some years ago Bouis and Carlet found that, by the action of zinc and 

 acetic acid on cenanthol, a heptyl acetate is formed, which yielded a 

 heptyl alcohol boiling at 165°f. If these statements be correct, this 

 alcohol cannot be a normal compound, for its boiling-point is only 8° 

 higher than that of normal hexyl alcohol. One of us, on repeating these 

 experiments, did not, however, succeed in obtaining a heptyl alcohol, the 

 chief product of the reaction consisting of high-boiling condensation- 

 products of cenanthol^. 



To convert cenanthol into the alcohol we have therefore made use of 

 the excellent method which Lieben and Rossi have employed so success- 

 fully for the reduction of other aldehydes. 



(Enanthol was shaken with fifty times its weight of water, and sodium 

 amalgam and an equivalent quantity of sulphuric acid were gradually 

 added. The product of the reaction was a mixture of heptyl alcohol 

 and another very high-boiling liquid, the separation of which could be 

 easily effected by distillation. 



The primary heptyl alcohol thus obtained is a limpid, somewhat oily 

 liquid, possessing an aromatic odour and boiling at 175°-177°, if the 



* Phil. Trans, vol. clxii. p. 111. t Comptes Rendus, vol. 1. p. 140. 



% Ann. Ch. Pharm. vol. cxxxvi. p. 261. 



