384 
DR. A. W. HOFMANN’S RESEARCHES INTO THE 
lation is an extremely volatile and powerfully alkaline liquid ; but. strange to say, 
during the whole process not a trace of gas is disengaged. I have repeatedly per- 
formed the experiment with exactly the same result. Here then we meet with a new 
mode of decomposition, and unless I am much mistaken, with a decomposition of a 
very peculiar character. I have made a few experiments with the basic liquid dis- 
engaged, but as I have not as yet arrived at perfectly definite results, I refrain from 
entering into farther details. 
The mother-liquor of iodide of tetramethylammonium, which contains chiefly 
iodide of ammonium, together with small quantities of the intermediate iodides, 
yields all the corresponding bases by distillation with potassa. However, the am- 
monia prevails in the distillate to such an extent, that the attempt to effect a separa- 
tion would have been hopeless. It was only by precipitating the liquid with bichlo- 
ride of platinum, and separating the more soluble from the less soluble salts, that 
I succeeded in obtaining evidence of the presence of the intermediate bases. As 
yet I have been able to prepare only the methylamine-salt in a state of tolerable 
purity, of which I subjoin the analysis. 
0T415 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0’0590 grm.=4r69 per cent, of platinum. 
The formula 
f 1 
C2 H5 N, H Cl, Pt Cl2= H N, H Cl, Pt CI2 
IC2 hJ 
requires 4 T 61 per cent, of platinum. 
Bases of the Amyl-Series. 
While I was engaged with the investigation of the lower ethyl-bases, Messrs. Wil- 
LiAiM and Alfred Bennett, who at that period were studying in the Laboratory of the 
College of Chemistry, undertook, at my request, the examination of the corresponding 
bodies in the amyl-series. Prevented from completing their researches by leaving Lon- 
don, these gentlemen have placed their results at my disposal, which I have verified in 
every respect, and which I subjoin, together with a series of experiments of my own, 
especially on the oxide of tetramylammonium. 
Amylamine. 
Ammonia acts but very slowly upon iodide of amyl, and the product of the reac- 
tion contains, as in the methyl-series, not less than five iodides. Among these the 
iodides of amylammonium and diamylammonium are present in the smallest quantity. 
The preparation of amylamine succeeds much better according to the process of M. 
WuRTz, namely, by submitting cyanate of amyl to the action of hydrate of potassa. 
