AmjJne,ri£8.arm' }     Chemical  Examination  of  Ipomce a  Purpurea.  265 
dine,  and  was  therefore  dissolved  in  a  hot,  aqueous  solution  of  this 
solvent,  from  which,  on  cooling,  it  separated  in  its  original  form. 
After  drying,  it  was  finally  dissolved  in  hot  alcohol,  and  the  pure 
white  substance  which  separated  on  cooling  then  melted  at  285-2900 
C,  and  was  analyzed  : 
0-0708  gave  0-1884  C02  and  0-0676  H20.    C  =  72-6  ;  H  =  io-6 
C23H40O4  requires  C  =  72  6;  H  =  10*5  per  cent. 
From  the  remaining  portion  of  the  substance  an  acetyl  derivative 
was  prepared.  The  latter,  when  crystallized  from  acetic  anhydride, 
was  obtained  in  pearly  leaflets,  melting  sharply  at  1600  C,  but  the 
amount  was  too  small  for  analysis. 
A  substance  possessing  the  same  empirical  formula  as  that  of  the 
above-described  compound,  namely,  C23H40O4,  and  having  the  same 
properties,  has  recently  been  isolated  in  these  laboratories  from  olive 
bark,  and  has  proved  to  be  a  new  dihydric  alcohol.  As  the  acetyl 
derivatives  of  these  two  preparations  have  the  same  melting  point, 
which  is  not  altered  when  they  are  mixed,  it  is  evident  that  the  two 
alcohols  are  identical.  It  has  thus  been  possible  to  establish  the 
correctness  of  the  formula  assigned  to  the  above-described  substance, 
and,  in  view  of  its  being  a  new  alcohol,  it  is  proposed  to  designate 
it  ipuranol. 
The  resinous  portion  of  the  ethyl  acetate  extract  was  finally  ob- 
tained in  the  form  of  a  yellowish-brown  powder.  This  was  subjected 
to  the  same  treatment  as  has  been  described  in  connection  with  the 
ether  and  chloroform  extracts  of  the  resin. 
Fusion  with  Potassium  Hydroxide.- — Thirty  grammes  of  the  resin 
were  fused  with  160  grammes  of  potassium  hydroxide,  the  operation 
being  conducted  in  the  same  manner  as  has  been  described  in  con- 
nection  with  the  ether  extract.  The  cooled  mass,  which  was  very 
light  in  color,  was  dissolved  in  water,  the  solution  acidified  with 
sulphuric  acid,  and  distilled  with  steam.  The  distillate,  which  con- 
tained some  dark  brown,  oily  drops,  was  extracted  with  ether,  the 
ethereal  solution  being  washed,  dried  with  calcium  chloride,  and  the 
ether  removed.  A  dark  brown,  oily  liquid  was  thus  obtained,  which 
amounted  to  1-5  grammes.  This  was  distilled  under  a  pressure  of 
40  mm.,  when  it  passed  over  within  a  wide  range  of  temperature  as 
a  light  brown  oil  which  darkened  in  color  on  standing.    A  portion 
