— 71 — 
Nitrogen determination : 
0,2239 gm. of the substance yielded 10,3 cc N at 14,5° and 754 mm 
Found: N = 5,36 7o- 
The foregoing figures are, however, given with reserve. The base 
(8 gm.) boiling at 135° to 140° (3 to 4 mm pressure) had the specific 
gravity 1,0148, the optical rotation aj) = — 9°5'> the index of re- 
fraction, at 20°, 1,54282. Its platinum double salt could not yet be 
obtained sufficiently pure for analysis, but may possibly melt lower 
than the one mentioned first. In alcohol it dissolves fairly easily. 
Further tests are being made with both bases. 
Sesquiterpenes. We have repeatedly endeavoured, but always 
without success, to detect in the fractions boiling between 264^ and 
278°, the cadinene found by Wallach in patchouli oil, by means of 
its dihydrochloride. Even the experiments made during continued 
winter-cold remained without result. Nor could a crystalline nitrite, 
nitroso chloride, or nitrosate be isolated. The specific gravity of the 
sesquiterpenes distilled over sodium fluctuated between 0,9217 and 
0,9379, the rotatory power between — 27^37' and ■ — 40° 37'. 
Patchouli alcohol. This body, which probably represents the 
bulk of the oil, is present in the portions boiling above 140° (8 mm 
pressure). After repeated recrystallisation from petroleum ether, it 
forms a colourless compound melting at 56°, which in the pure state 
may possibly be odourless. The specific rotation, calculated from a 
23,94 chloroform solution, was — 97^42^ In spite of a recrystal- 
lisation repeated 6 times, we were unable to remove a faint musty 
odour, which of course is so characteristic of patchouli oil. The 
hydrocarbon patchoulene, which is formed from the alcohol 
already at ordinary temperature by the action of strong formic acid or 
other agent abstracting water, is a colourless liquid of a cedar-like 
odour, which has the boiling point 255° to 256°. The specific gravity 
of the body distilled over sodium was (contrary to Wallach's^) state- 
ment) 0,9334, the optical rotation — 36^52^ We were unable to 
produce solid derivatives of patchoulene, such as the alcohol, a nitro- 
site, nitrosochloride, or nitrosate. On oxidation with i ^/q perman- 
ganate solution an oily product was formed, which was not examined 
further. The question whether the sesquiterpene, which is readily 
formed from patchouli alcohol, is present in patchouli oil, can only be 
settled by further examinations. 
Peppermint Oil, American. As predicted in our Report of 
October last, the attempts made by a clique of speculators to drive 
the prices up, have failed completely. The quotations have remained 
^) Liebig's Annalen 279 (1894), 394. 
