692 
ME. P. GBIESS ON A NEW SEEIES OE BODIES IN 
phenyl being less volatile, is obtained after the whole of the alcohol has distilled over ; 
it condenses into a crystalline mass in the receiver. Repeated recrystallizations from 
alcohol render it quite pure, in white plates, resembling naphtaline, and fusible at 
70° C. These properties leave no doubt as to its identity with the phenyl of Dr. Fittig, 
to whom I am indebted for a small portion of his substance, which resembles in every 
respect the body obtained as mentioned above. 
The third product of the decomposition in question, viz. the amorphous brown sub- 
stance, is left behind in the retort as a resinous mass. 
From the foregoing observations it will be seen that potassa, in the presence of 
alcohol, causes simultaneously three different decompositions of the diazobenzol-mole- 
cule, which may be expressed as follows : — 
I. 
Diazobenzol. Alcohol. Benzol. Aldehyd. 
II. 2G 6 H 4 N 2 +G 2 H 6 O = G 12 H 10 +G 2 H 4 0+N 4 . 
Phenvl. 
Beddish-brown 
substance. 
Action of Ammonia upon aqueous Nitrate of Biazobenzol. 
On adding diluted ammonia to an aqueous solution of this diazo-compound, a similar 
reaction takes place as when the potassa is employed. On treating the brown mass, 
however, with alcohol, it becomes evident that it consists of two bodies. The difficultly 
soluble portion is absolutely identical with the nitrogenous body previously described, 
as was proved by the following analysis : — 
0-245 grm. gave 0-744 grm. of carbonic acid and 0-1237 grm. of water. Carbon =82-75, 
and hydrogen 5-60 per cent. 
c 24 h 18 n 2 o. 
Calculated. 
Bound. 
G 82-29 
82-75 
H 5T4 
5-60 
The body accompanying it, and which is readily soluble in alcohol, is obtained, by 
repeated crystallization, in the form of small, light-yellow plates which detonate on 
heating, and whose alcoholic solution gives precipitates with nitrate of silver and 
bichloride of platinum. This compound is, in fact, no other than the diazo-amidobenzol 
previously mentioned. The coincidence with this latter was so complete, that it appeared 
to me loss of time to analyze it. With regard to the first of the two products of decom- 
position, it is clear that its formation must be expressed by the same equation which 
illustrated the reaction with caustic potassa upon nitrate of diazobenzol, whilst the 
formation of the latter (the diazo-amidobenzol) is explained by assuming that a portion 
