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a semicarbazone of the melting point i8o°, and on the other hand 
with carbanil a phenyl urethane, proves that it is here a question of 
a ketonic alcohol. The absorption of 2 atoms bromine shows that the 
product contains a double linking. Oxidation with permanganate in 
acid solution converts the dioxypinene into a lactonic acid CgHjgO^ 
of the melting points 68° to 69° and 89° respectively, which is identic 
with terpenylic acid. 
When anethol is oxidised with mercuric acetate, it yields a glycol 
CH3O • CgH^ • €3115(0 H)2 of the melting point 98°, which chromic 
acid converts into anisic acid. The diacetyl derivative of the glycol, 
a thickish oil, boils at 4 1 mm pressure at 2 1 0°. 
Whilst isosafrol on treatment with mercuric acetate yields an oxi- 
dation product, safrol does not yield one, but, on the other hand, a 
mercuric compound occurs which is separated out, according to the 
length of time during which the reagent is allowed to act, either as 
a syrup, or as a white crystalline body. The authors give the following 
constitutional formula to it: 
/HgC^HeO, 
OH. 
CH2O2 • CgHg . C3H5 
In the same manner a mercuric compound is obtained from 
camphene. As the authors do not give any further particulars of the 
manner of production or the properties of this body, and do not 
announce a continuation of their examination, and as we were anxious 
to render this reaction, if possible, available for the detection of 
camphene in essential oils, we have occupied, ourselves with the 
examination of this compound. We worked under the same conditions 
as those given by Balbiano and Paolini for the pinene oxidation. 
The camphene was dissolved in an equal volume benzene. The 
separated compound, which was apparently of a crystalline character, 
was washed with water, alcohol and ether, in which it is insoluble, 
and was thereby obtained as a pure white, dust-like powder. After 
unsuccessful attempts to regenerate camphene from it by boiling with 
water or alkalies, we succeeded in decomposing it wdth hydrogen 
sulphide. For this purpose the powder was suspended in water, and 
hydrogen sulphide introduced into this suspension for 4 to 5 hours, 
with frequent shaking. From the black compound which was filtered 
off and washed, a quantity of camphene approximately the same as 
that employed could be isolated by steam distillation. After re- 
crystallisation from alcohol, the camphene melted at 49° to 50°. 
Its boiling point was found as 159° to 160°. 
The next step was to submit to this reaction an oil which was 
believed to contain camphene by reason of the isobomeol reaction 
obtained with it, but from which no camphene as such had as yet 
