Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
April,  1881.  J 
Chemical  Notes. 
171 
cover.  With  nitric  acid  of  1'45  an  inflaming  cannot  be  gotten. — JBer. 
der  Chem.  Ges.,  xiv.,  p.  301. 
Organic  Chemistry. — Formation  of  Levulinic  Acid  from  Differ- 
ent Sugars. — B.  Tollens,  who  described  several  years  ago  the  forma- 
tion of  levulinic  acid  from  levulose,  or  fruit-sugar,  has  studied  more 
fully  the  conditions  of  its  formation,  and  has  also  shown  that  it  can  be 
formed,  although  with  greater  difficulty,  and  in  relatively  smaller 
amount,  from  both  dextrose,  or  grape-sugar,  and  from  milk-sugar. 
He  also  shows  that  tliis  acid,  derived  from  the  sugars  by  the  action  of 
dilute  sulphuric  acid  upon  them,  and  possessing  the  formula  CgHgOg^, 
is  acetopropionic  acid.  In  proof  of  this  he  has  changed  levulinic  acid 
into  normal  valerianic  acid,  according  to  the  reaction  : 
CH3.CO.CHr2.CH2.COOH+4HI=CH3.CH2.CH2.CH2.COOH+ 
H,0-f  41. 
Of  the  valerianic  acid  a  series  of  metallic  salts  and  ethers  were- 
formed,  which  were  found  in  all  respects  to  agree  with  those  generally 
known. — Ann.  der  Ch.  und  Ph.,  206,  p.  217. 
Decomposition  of  Glucosides  by  Heat. — H.  Schiff  finds  that  on  heat- 
ing several  of  the  glucosides  to  temperatures  slightly  above  their  fus- 
ing points  they  are  decomposed,  and  in  several  cases  in  a  very  simple 
and  exact  manner.  Thus  ^esculin,  heated  to  200°C.,  fused  and  solidi- 
fied on  cooling  to  a  yellowish-brown  mass,  which  showed  that  decom- 
position had  commenced.  On  treating  the  mass  with  a  little  water,, 
one  part  dissolved  readily,  and  the  solution  yielded  on  evaporation 
over  sulphuric  acid  an  amber-colored  glassy  mass,  which  was  recog- 
nized as  glucosan.  The  portion  less  soluble  in  w^ater  was  pure  sescu- 
letin.  Complete  decomposition  had,  therefore,  taken  place  according 
to  the  reaction  Ci^HiA^CgHA+C.H^oOa. 
A  second  preparation,  heated  to  230°C.,  gave  the  same  result.  The 
fusing-points  of  these  two  aesculin  preparations  were  204' 5 °C.  and 
205°C.,  considerably  higher  than  that  usually  given. 
Phlorizin  was  next  taken.  The  preparation  fused  at  110°C.  to  a 
half-liquid  opaque  mass,  which  became  porcelain-like  on  higher  heat- 
ing, and  fused  finally  at  170°  to  171°  to  a  clear  yellow  liquid.  If  the 
phlorizin  be  heated  just  until  this  second  fusion  is  reached,  the  mass 
consists  of  phloretin  and  glucosan. 
Arbutin,  when  free  foom  methylarbutin,  fuses  at  166°  to  167°C.y 
becomes  yellowish  in  color  at  190°-  to  200°C.,  but  is  not  decomposed. 
