82 
corresponding chlorides, from which other derivatives may 
be obtained. 
In the portion of the oil boiling below 120° C, I found the 
following four hydrides : — 
C 10 H 12 hydride of amyl, boiling point 39° C. 
C 12 H u hydride of hexyl, 68° C. 
Cu H 1C hydride of heptyl, 98° C. 
C lc H JS hydride of octyl, 119° C. 
Of these the hydride of heptyl or oenanthyl is the most 
interesting, as it was previously unknown, and I therefore 
undertook the investigation of its derivatives, concerning 
which likewise our knowledge is very limited and contra- 
dictory. Thus, for instance, many chemists state that the 
alkohol obtained by the distillation of castor oil with potash 
is heptylic alkohol, whilst others regard it as octylic alkohol, 
and it is only by the most recent experiments of Bouis * that 
we learn with certainty that this substance is octylic alkohol, 
inasmuch as lie obtained the true heptylic alkohol by the 
action of nascent hydrogen on oenanthol. For the purpose 
of this investigation I endeavoured to obtain the hydride of 
heptyl from the American petroleum, as the yield of this sub- 
stance from the cannel oils is but small, and the labour of 
purification tedious and disagreeable. 
The existence of this hydride in the petroleum was rendered 
probable by the fact of the discovery of hydride of hexyl by 
Pelouze and Cahours.f 
The oils which I examined arc those known by the name 
of turpentine substitute, and obtained as the first products in 
the rectification of the crude oil. Different samples of the 
commercial articles possess very different properties, the 
spec. gr. lies between O'TO — O’TS. One sample began to boil 
at 30° C, and the greatest portion distilled over below 100° C, 
whilst others between 80° — 150° C, and others between 
100°— 200° C. 
* Compt rend. 55. 110. 
t Compt. rend. 54, 1241. 
