574 
ON A NEW CLASS OF ALCOHOLS. 
C ,8 H,o O 4 , which will be discovered between toluic and cuminic acids. It stands to 
this acid in the same relation as acrylic stands to propionic acid. 
The acids belonging to the acrylic group all possess the property of being transformed, 
by fixation of two atoms of oxygen and two of water, into acetic acid and a second 
homologous acid, as is shown by the following equation : — 
Qn H2»-2 04 + 02+2H0 = C4 H4 04 + C2„_4 H2„_4 O4. 
It is thus that acrylic, angelic, and oleic acids are resolved mider the influence of 
hydrate of potassa at a temperature of 200° C. into acetic acid, and into formic, propionic, 
and ethalic acids. 
Cinnamic acid suffers under the influence of fusing potassa a perfectly analogous trans- 
formation. This acid fixes two equivalents of oxygen and two equivalents of water, and 
yields acetic and benzoic acids. 
In canying out the preceding inquiry, we have been very ably assisted by Mr. Aethur 
H. C fliURCH, to whom our best thanks are due. 
