28 Mr. C. Schorlemmer on Octi/I Compounds. [June \7, 



Found. 



Calculated for C s H 13 Ag 0 2 . I. II. 



43*02 per cent. 42*86 per cent. 43*20 per cent. 



The neutral oil had quite the properties of an acetone ; it gave a crystal- 

 line compound with hydrogen-sodium sulphite, and was not changed any 

 further by the oxidising mixture in the cold ; but on heating them together, 

 oxidation took place and fatty acids were formed, which appeared to be a 

 mixture of propionic and valerianic acids ; of acetic acid not a trace could 

 be detected. 



1st Fraction of the silver salt . . 0*1 325 gave 0*0675 silver. 

 2nd „ „ „ 0*2732 „ 0*1385 „ 



3rd „ „ „ 0*1562 „ 0 0780 „ 



Calculated for Found. 



Silver valerate. Silver caproate. I. II. III. 



51*67 per cent. Ag. 48*43 per cent. Ag. 50*94 50*69 50 0 



The percentage amount of silver contained in these salts corresponds better 

 with that of valerate than that of caproate ; most probably a little caprylic 

 acid was still present, which caused the amount of silver to be a little too 

 small. 



The solution from which these silver salts had been precipitated gave 

 on evaporation small granular crystals, having the composition of silver 

 propionate. 



0*1738 gave 0*1033 silver. 



Calculated for C 3 H 5 Ag 0. 2 . Found. 

 59*67 per cent. Ag. 59*43. per cent. 



From the results of my experiments I draw the following conclusions : — 



(1) The octyl alcohol, obtained from the hydrocarbon C 0 H,,, oc- 

 curring in American petroleum, consists chiefly of methyl-hexyl carbinol, 

 CH 



q g I CH OH, and is therefore identical with the alcohol obtained 



from castor oil. Not only the physical properties of the two and their 

 derivatives agree*, but also their oxidation products are the same ; they 



CH 1 



both give methvl cenanthol or methvl-hexvl acetone, JL I CO, which, 



by further oxidation, splits up into acetic and caproic acids. 



Besides this secondary alcohol, there is also formed a smaller quantity 

 of a primary alcohol, as amongst the products of oxidation an acid con- 

 taining eight atoms of carbon was found. 



(2) The hydrocarbon, C s H 1S , which is formed by replacing in methyl- 

 hexyl carbinol the group hydroxyl HO by hydrogen, is different from that 



* The only exception is the boiling-point of the acetate, which I found to be 200°- 

 205°, whilst that from castor oil boils, according to Bonis, at 193°. 



