Part IV.] Simonsen : Constituents of Indian Essential Oils. 
29 
Acids 'present in the oil. 
The sodium hydroxide solution with which the original oil had been 
washed (see above), was saturated with carbon dioxide and repeatedly 
extracted with ether. On evaporation of the ether an oil (12 grammes) 
remained which on cooling partially solidified. As the oil appeared to 
consist of an acid and not as had been expected of a phenol, it was 
dissolved in a slight excess of ammonia and treated with a sohition of cal- 
cium chloride when a sparingly soluble calcium salt separated. This was 
collected, washed with alcohol and decomposed with dilute hydrochlor- 
ic acid, when an oil separated which rapidly solidified. After drain- 
ing on porous porcelain, the solid was recrystallised from methyl alcohol 
when it was obtained in glistening leaflets melting at 02-63° and 
evidently consisted of palmitic acid since the melting point was not 
altered on admixture with an equal quantity of this acid from 
another source. The silver salt was analysed. (Found Ag=29'9, 
calc. Ag=29’7 per cent.) The filtrate from the sparingly soluble 
calcium salt gave on acidification a trace of an oily acid which was not 
further investigated. 
The sodium carbonate solution from which the palmitic acid had 
been separated was acidified when an oil was obtained which smelt 
strongly of the higher fatty acids. On standing it deposited a small 
quantity of a crystalline solid which after crystallisation from water 
melted at 133° and was identified as cinnamic acid. The oily acid (12 
grammes) was esterified with alcohol and sulphuric acid and resulting 
esters distilled when the following fractions were collected : — 160 — 
170°, 170—180°, 180—200°, 200—250°, 250—270°. The fraction boiling 
at 250 — 270° (1'3 grammes) consisted essentially of ethyl cinnamate 
since on hydrolysis cinnamic acid contaminated with a trace of an oily 
acid was obtained. The remaining fractions, since they were 
insufficient in quantity for purification, were hydrolysed with barium 
hydroxide solution, the excess of barium removed by carbon dioxide, 
and the soluble barium salts converted into the silver salts which were 
analysed. 
B. P. A g. per cent. 
160 — 170 ° 47-2 
170 — 180 ° . . 47-4 
180 — 200 ° 46-2 
200 — 260 ° 45-2 
[ 139 ] 
