54 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
and 56° C. It was not possible to separate them by distillation, 
but on shaking the mixture with solution of chloride of mercury, 
the sulphide of methyl was removed, leaving a few drops of acetate 
of methyl, easily recognised by its fruity smell. 
(CH 3 ) 3 S-C 2 H 3 0 2 = (CH 3 ) 2 S + (CH 3 )-C 2 HA . 
II. Benzoate of Trimethyl-sulphine. 
The benzoate is formed by treating the iodide of trimethyl- 
sulphine with benzoate of silver. The solution of the salt can be 
evaporated on the water bath to a syrup. On leaving it for about 
two weeks over sulphuric acid a very few crystals were formed, 
which could not be separated from the very thick syrup in which 
they were suspended. By adding alcohol it was obtained more 
easily in small thin plates. After several days of very cold weather 
a crust formed over the surface of the aqueous solution. 
The thick aqueous solution on being heated to 100° C. with a 
current of dry air passing over it gave off some water, but the salt 
did not solidify. On continuing to heat at about 110° C., the clear 
liquid became milky, sulphide of methyl was given off, and a layer 
of a liquid formed above the heavy aqueous solution. This was 
collected apart, dried by means of chloride of calcium, and gave as 
its boiling point 198° C., that of benzoate of methyl. The decompo- 
sition is expressed by the following equation : — 
(CH 3 ) 3 S — C,H 5 0 2 = (CH 3 ) 2 S + (CH 3 ) — C y H 5 0 2 . 
III. Dithionate of Trimethyl-sulphine. 
The dithionate is formed by neutralising an aqueous solution 
of free dithionic acid with the hydrate of trimethyl-sulphine. On 
evaporating a solution of the salt on the water bath it begins to 
crystallise out. On leaving the saturated solution to cool, a large 
quantity of clear cubical crystals was obtained, not hygroscopic, 
insoluble in hot alcohol, and, when dry, without any smell of 
sulphide of methyl. 
