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Ketone CgH^gO. This substance to which in part lavender oil 
owes its refreshing odour, had hitherto not yet been more closely 
identified by its physical constants, as the production of the body in 
the pure state is attended with considerable difficulties. At the same 
time, we were able to give some details as to its boiling point and 
odour, and also of a solid derivative. As we suspected a ketone in 
the body, on account of its fruit-like odour, but as it formed no solid 
compound with bisulphite, we endeavoured to purify it at ordinary 
temperature by oxidation with a i per cent, solution of permanganate. 
The oil, freed in this manner from readily oxidisable admixtures, boiled 
for the greater part at 159° to 166°, and had the specific gravity 0,8445. 
We obtained from it a semicarbazone which crystallised from benzene 
in brilliant leaflets of the melting point 116° to 117°. An elementary 
analysis gave values which point to the semicarbazone of a ketone Cg H^gO : 
0,1534 g of the substance yielded 0,3282 g COg and 0,1427 g HgO. 
Found : Calculated for C9 H^g O N3 : 
C = 58,34 per cent., C =58,38 per cent. 
H = 10,33 .... H = 10,27 „ „ 
The ketone could therefore be the methyl hexyl, or the ethyl amyl 
ketone. In view of its boiling point (boiling point of the ethyl amyl 
ketone 164° to 166^), and of the property of not reacting with sodium 
bisulphite, its identity with the latter might be assumed. This is sup- 
ported by the fact that the melting point of the methyl hexyl ketone- 
semicarbazone lies at 123°, i. e. 6° higher. A mixture of the two 
semicarbazones of different origin melted already below 1 1 0°, which 
is a proof that the derivative melting at 1 16° to 117° cannot be identic 
with that of the methyl hexyl ketone. The result obtained by oxidation 
with chromic acid also speaks in favour of ethyl amyl ketone. Accord- 
ing to Wagner's^) rules regarding the progress of oxidation with 
aliphatic monocarbonyl ketones, the preponderating formation of caproic 
acid was to be expected. We oxidised whilst heating for several hours 
on a water bath with frequent shaking. The oily acid with the odour 
of valeric acid, isolated from the reaction - mixtures , yielded a silver 
salt which could be recrystallised from water, and whose silver-content 
completely agreed with that calculated for silver caproate : 
I. 0,2204 g of the substance yielded 0,1067 g Ag. 
II. 0,1025 g „ „ „ „ 0,0497 g „ 
Found: Calculated for CQH^^OoAg: 
1. Ag = 48,41 per cent, Ag = 48,43 per cent. 
II. Ag = 48,50 „ „ 
^) Journal fiir practische Chemie II. 44 (1891), 257 et seq. 
