1881.] 



On /3-Lutidine, 



161 



sulphuric acid, the desiccation may be completed without fusion. The 

 platinum was determined separately in the first four precipitates ; the 

 fifth and sixth were so small in quantity that they had to be mixed. 



Number of precipitate. Percentage of platinum. 



I 25-28 



II 2482 



III 26-40 



IV 2757 



V and VI 30-28 



The second precipitate, in its percentage of platinum, agrees with 

 the formula for the platinum salt of the hydrochlorate of dibetaluti- 

 dine containing two molecules of dibetalutidine, the formula being — 



2(C 14 H 18 N2)HCl.PtCl 4 , 



or, of a still higher polymer, in which case the formula becomes — 



CMHMN*. HCl.PtCI 4 ; 



whichever formula we adopt, the percentage of platinum required is 

 24*61, which agrees closely with the experimental number. The other 

 precipitates were probably mixtures of this salt with the platinum 

 salt of dibetalutidine — 



C 14 H 18 N2.HCl.PtCl 4 , 



which requires 33'53 per cent, of platinum. 



A second preparation was then made, but the oil obtained on treat- 

 ing the crude product with water was distilled ; the boiling point 

 varied from 180° C. to a temperature above the range of the mercurial 

 thermometer. Four fractions were received, the fourth, which dis- 

 tilled at and above 300°, was dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and frac- 

 tionally precipitated with platinic chloride. 



Number of precipitate. Percentage of platinum. 



I Lost. 



II 24-69 



III 26-48 



IV 29-60 



The second precipitate, therefore, afforded almost exactly the 

 numbers required for the salt C 28 H 36 N 4 . HCl.PtCl 4 , and the others 

 were probably mixtures of the kind I have indicated above. It is 

 possible that the fourth precipitate had the composition shown by the 

 formula C 14 H l8 ]N" 3 .3HCl.PtCl 4 , which would require 29'84 per cent, 

 of platinum; I propose to settle this question by further experi- 

 ments. 



