12 
phenol alkyl ethers were condensed, like anisol, phenetol, etc., with 
chlorides of fatty acids into p-alkoxy ketones; by reduction with 
sodium and alcohol, the corresponding secondary alcohols could be 
produced, which yielded with hydrochloric acid gas, at o°, the corre- 
sponding chlorides, with carbanil solid urethanes, and upon acety- 
lation acetates. If the latter were boiled with pyridine, intermediary 
pyridylium addition-products were formed, which subsequently split up 
into pyridine acetate and unsaturated phenol ethers. 
In this manner there was obtained from anisol with propionyl 
chloride, the ketone C H3 O • Cg • CO • CHg • CH3 of the boiling 
point 148° at 14 mm, and from the latter the alcohol CHgO'CgH^* 
CH (OH) • CHg . CH3 of the boiling point 141 to 142°, at 16 mm. 
The corresponding phenyl urethane melted at 74^, the acetate boiled 
at 156°, at 20 mm. When the latter was heated with alcoholic 
potassa, a strong odour of anise occurred, and after 10 hours' boiling 
with pyridine and dissolving in dilute acids, synthetic anethol was 
obtained from it, whose odour, melting point and boiling point corre- 
sponded with those of the natural compound. By the same method 
were produced: propenyl-para-ethoxy benzene (the name "Anaethol" 
selected for this body cannot be considered a very happy choice), 
propenyl-para-normal butoxy and isobutoxy benzene, together with the 
corresponding intermediary products. 
Oil of Asarum arifolium. The leaves, and even more so 
the roots, of the American plant Asarum arifolium, contain an essential 
oil with a pleasant aromatic odour reminding of sassafras oil. It is 
obtained in a yield of from 7 to 7,5 per cent in the steam-distillation 
of the parts of the plant. Its chemical composition has recently been 
investigated by E. R. Miller i). According to the author the oil is 
colourless, heavier than water, and has a bitter taste. Under the 
influence of light and air it gradually acquires a reddish-yellow colour. 
Like sassafras oil, it dissolves with an intense red colour in concen- 
trated sulphuric acid. Concentrated nitric acid attacks it violently, 
with formation of a red liquid and a resin. With bromine it reacts 
strongly. For three samples of the oil the author gives the following 
constants: Specific gravity 1,0585, 1,0609, i>o6i3; optical rotation 
— 3°, —2° 55', —3° 7'; refractive index (at 20°) 1,531875, 
1,531460 and 1,531065. In most of the usual solvents the oil 
dissolves readily; with carbon disulphide, acetic ether, petroleum ether, 
and turpentine oil it forms cloudy mixtures. At 22 mm pressure it distils 
between 55° and 179°. 
The principal constituent of the oil is safrol. The presence of 
this body was proved by the boiling point 230 to 231°, elementary 
1) Archiv d. Pharm. 240 (1902), 371. 
