338 



Mr. E. Schunck. 



[May 7, 



Phyllocyanin dissolves easily in concentrated sulphuric, hydrochloric, 

 and hydrobromic acids, yielding dark blue solutions, which show 

 spectra differing from that of phyllocyanin, and no doubt contain 

 compounds of the latter with acids. These compounds however are 

 unstable, for on the addition of water to the solutions, phyllocyanin 

 is precipitated unchanged. Phyllocyanin shows no tendency to 

 combine with weaker acids, such as phosphoric, oxalic, tartaric, or 

 citric acid. 



Phyllocyanin dissolves easily in dilute caustic potash or soda lye. 

 The solution gives precipitates of various shades of green with earthy 

 and metallic salts, such as barium chloride, calcium chloride, lead 

 acetate, and cupric acetate, and these might be called phyllocyanates. 

 It seems however that by mere solution in alkali, phyllocyanin under- 

 goes some change, for if acetic acid in excess be added to the solution 

 and it be then shaken up with ether, the precipitate dissolves in the 

 etber, giving a solution which shows the bands of phyllocyanin, but 

 if the whole be left to stand some time, the colour of the ethereal 

 solution changes from green to brown, and it now shows a distinct 

 and peculiar spectrum, characterised by two bands in the red and two 

 fine but well-marked bands in the green, the third and fourth bands 

 of phyllocyanin having disappeared, while the fifth still remains. The 

 body yielding this spectrum has been prepared and found to yield 

 microscopic crystals like phyllocyanin. A different product is formed 

 when hot alkaline lye, or, what is better, boiling alcoholic potash or 

 soda is employed. It crystallises in small rosettes, which are green 

 by transmitted, of a fine purple by reflected light. Its solutions have 

 a dull purple colour, and exhibit a distinct spectrum characterised by 

 a broad very dark band in the green. It may be identical with one 

 of the products obtained by Hoppe-Seyler from his chlorophyllan with 

 alkalis. 



The action of aniline on phyllocyanin is peculiar and interesting. 

 When the two are heated together in a sealed tube to 130° the phyllo- 

 cyanin disappears entirely, giving several products, one of which is 

 colourless and crystallises in white needles. The second, which may 

 be an anilide, yields solutions which are quite red, and show a 

 characteristic spectrum having three fine but distinct bands in the 

 red, and three other very strong bands, one in the yellow, one in the 

 green, and one at the edge of the blue. No similar compound is 

 formed when ammonia is used in place of aniline. 



The concluding part of the paper treats of what may be called 

 double compounds of phyllocyanin, into which metals and acids, 

 especially organic acids, enter as constituents. Phyllocyanin seems to 

 act the part of a weak base, uniting with strong acids and forming 

 unstable compounds. In acetic acid it merely dissolves without 

 yielding any compound. In like manner, when freshly precipitated 



