( 16 ) 
The methylchavicol, which was obtained by fractional distillation 
from Javanese Basilicum oil, still showed a faint rotation (1°30' in a 
2d.m. tube). 
In order to eliminate the active ingredient, which could not be 
separated by fractional distillation, it was treated with various reagents 
such as acetic anhydride, sodium hydrogen sulphite, potassium per¬ 
manganate, but all in vain; the rotation did not diminish. A treat¬ 
ment with magnesinm-ethyl iodide, which was repeated a few times, 
finally answered the purpose. The boiling point of the main mass 
was found to be 214°—215° (corrected). 
Analysis: found 79.88 C, 8.26 H; calculated 81.08 C, 8.1 H. 
During the fractional distillation of methylchavicol it will be noticed 
that the residue in the flask often deposits some crystals. 
These may be obtained in a somewhat larger quantity by heating 
methylchavicol in sealed tubes for 48 hours at 250°. The contents of the 
tubes has then turned yellow. After distillation up to 240° (thermometer 
in the liquid) the residue is placed in an ice chamber. A crystalline mass 
is formed from which the oil is removed by suction. After repeated 
recrystallisation from acetone and alcohol the main product isolated 
melts at 98° 1 ), while a substance melting at 166° is also obtained. 
The solutions of these substances in petroleum ether and in benzene 
exhibit a beautiful blue fluorescence which is particularly strong in 
the case of the substance melting at 166°. Traces of a substance 
melting above 200° were also formed, but the yield of these crystal¬ 
lised substances is rather small. 
The elementary analysis gives the same results with the two first 
named substances and agrees with the analysis of methylchavicol. 
The^ determination of the molecular weight of the substance melting 
at 98° in acetone with Ruber’s apparatus gave 308, 311 and 308. 
iftft° eterminati ° n in chloroform g ave 280- The substance melting at 
166 gave, in chloroform, 293, 290 and 279 as molecular weight. 
As the molecular weight of methylchavicol is 148, these substances 
should therefore be dimerides of the same. 
Ihe substance melting at 98° combines with 1 mol. of bromine 
and forms a compound melting at 87°. 
Analysis: found 35,04 Br ; calculated 35.05 for C s0 H 94 O 3 .Br 2 . 
1 6 lnvestl gation of these polymerides, which up to the present is 
With 1 a pre iminary nature > owing to the great difficulties connected 
with their preparation, i 8 being continued. 
—- Utrecht. Lab. org. Chem. University. 
point^j^t^eiy^hM^ 0 ^ 011 ° f tilis P roduct is ver 7 troublesome and the melting 
