50 
T. TADOKORO. 
substance in the bark portion. It seemed to us therefore to be of 
much scientific interest to investigate the chemical nature of this gummy 
substance. The finely powdered sample prepared from dry stem was extract- 
ed with 2% ammoniacal solution over night. On the following morning, the 
mixture was filtered off through a “ Nutsch ” filter with suction, washed with 
water and the residue was extracted with 5% caustic soda solution for 3 days 
and filtered again. The filtrate was neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid 
and precipitated with alcohol. The precipitate was put on filter, washed 
with alcohol and ether and dried at 110°C., powdered and preserved for 
hydrolysis. A part of the precipitate thus prepared was dissolved again in 
potash solution and reprecipitated with hydrochloric acid. The precipitate 
thus purified was dried over sulphuric acid in a partial vacuum and used for 
optical research. 
Pentosan and metliylpentosan of the substance were determined by 
the method of Eilet and Tollens !) with the following results. 
Pentosan in dry matter. 90.1% 
Metliylpentosan (as Rhamnosan) in dry matter. 11.3% 
It is thus seen that the substance at hand consists entirely of pentosan 
and metliylpentosan. To determine the nature of the pentosan, the substance 
was hydrolized and subjected to further investigation. 
Products of Hydrolysis. 
Method of Hydrolysis. 
25 grams of the substance and 250 c. c. of 5% sulphuric acid were put 
into an Erlenmeyer flask. The flask was provided with a reflux condenser and 
heated in a boiling Avater bath for 16 hours. At the end of the stated time, . 
the odor of furfurol was appreciable. When cooled it was filtered through a 
“Nutsch” filter with suction and the filtrate was neutralized with pure 
1)— Berlin, Ber. D. chem. Ges., 38 (1905) pp. 492-499. 
