244 Proceedings of Royal Society of Rdinhurgh. [sess. 
On quickly heating the acid fused (with decomposition) at 195°, 
a small quantity was converted into the anhydride, which, after 
purification by recrystallisation from hot ligroin, formed fine 
needles fusing at 147°-148°. 
The electrolytic conductivity of the acid was measured, with the 
result K = 0‘0311. Bethmann obtained 0*0314 for the acid pre- 
pared by Auwers and Meyer. 
Electrolysis of Etliyl-'potassium Dietliylmalonate. — Ethyl-potassium 
diethylmalonate was prepared from diethylmalonic ether exactly as 
described above for the preparation of the corresponding dimethyl 
compound, and was electrolysed in the usual way. The ethereal 
product gave a large fraction boiling below 230°. The residue 
boiling above 230° might he presumed to contain tetraethylsuccinic 
ether, hut no acid could he obtained from it by saponification. By 
distilling at reduced pressure a somewhat viscid, colourless oil was 
obtained, boiling constant at 170° under pressure of 12 mm. of 
mercury. It was perfectly neutral, insoluble in water, miscible 
with alcohol, and had a specific gravity of 1*0082 at 13° *5 com- 
pared with water at 4°. Combustion gave the following results : — 
I. 0*1194 gr. gave 0*2845 gr. CO 2 and 0*1076 gr. H 2 O 
II. 0*2193 „ 0*5230 „ 0*1965 „ 
Calculated for Found. 
c 
H 
Ci4H26C4. 
. 65*12 
. 10*08 
I. II. 
64*98 65*03 
10*01 9*97 
The substance is therefore not tetraethylsuccinic ether, hut con- 
tains in the molecule C 2 H 4 less than this. 
When heated with fuming hydrohromic acid it yielded ethyl 
bromide and a new neutral substance, insoluble in water, but 
soluble in alcohol and in benzene. It was purified by recrystallisation 
from benzene and from ligroin. In the cold it was odourless, but 
when warmed it had a smell exactly like that of camphor. It 
fused at 84° *5. Analysis gave the following results : — 
I. 0*1342 gr. gave 0*3341 gr. CO 2 and 0*1146 gr. H 2 O 
II. 0*1683 gr. gave 0*4180 gr. CO 2 and 0*1436 gr. H 2 O 
III. 0*1528 gr. gave 0*3796 gr. CO 2 and 0*1307 gr. H 2 O 
