46 
DR. NOAD ON SOME OF THE PRODUCTS OF 
oxide of ethyl is represented in the following equation : — 
C, FI S O, C„ {^ J O j +NH,=C 4 H 5 O, HO,+C ie }o„ NH,. 
Action of Reducing Agents on Nitrotoluylamide. 
When an alcoholic solution of nitrotoluylamide is submitted to the action of 
hydrosulphate of ammonia, the reaction is of a complicated nature, the alcohol itself 
undergoes decomposition, and its elements take a part in the formation of the new 
products. But an aqueous solution of the amide undergoes under the influence of 
this reducing agent a very interesting decomposition, precisely analogous to that of 
nitrobenzamide under similar circumstances. Ten grammes of the substance were 
dissolved in three pints of boiling distilled water, and agitated while still hot with 
strong solution of hydrosulphate of ammonia; the liquid was then thoroughly satu- 
rated with sulphuretted hydrogen, the bottle well stopped, and kept for several days 
plunged in a water-bath at the temperature of about 140°Fahr. The solution, which 
had now acquired a dark brown colour, was slowly evaporated on the water-bath ; 
large quantities of sulphur separated during the evaporation, which were from time 
to time removed. When the liquid was reduced to about six ounces it was filtered 
and set aside. In a few hours a mass of fawn-coloured crystals was deposited ; 
these were redissolved in water and boiled twice with animal charcoal. On cooling, 
a crop of beautiful pale-yellow cubical crystals made their appearance; these were 
again digested with animal charcoal, and from the filtered solution, fine, large, nearly 
colourless and transparent rhombic prisms of the new substance were obtained. 
They were dried first between folds of bibulous paper, and then in vacuo over sul- 
phuric acid, after which no further diminution in weight took place on reducing 
them to powder and heating them for two hours in an air-bath at their melting-point, 
viz. 240° Fahr. Unlike therefore the homologous compound obtained by Chancel 
from nitrobenzamide, this substance contains no water of crystallization. When the 
fused mass was removed from the air-bath, at the moment of solidification, it burst 
with a slight explosion into a heap of glistening crystalline plates. 
Analysis. — The combustion was made in the usual manner with oxide of copper. 
I. - 442 grm. produced T035 grm. carbonic acid and *270 grm. water. 
II. '4057 grm. yielded ’948 grm. carbonic acid and ’249 grm. water, 
numbers which correspond centesimally to 
I. II. 
Carbon .... 63'S6 6372 
Hydrogen . . . 679 6 - 82 
On heating a portion of the substance with soda-lime in a green glass retort, am- 
monia was first plentifully disengaged ; but on raising the heat a yellowish oily liquid 
distilled over, which in the course of half an hour solidified into a crystalline mass, 
having the peculiar smell of the aniline class of organic bases. Although no doubt 
was entertained that this substance was toluidine, it was thought desirable to deter- 
