412 
Methyl  Ethers  of  Morphhie. 
j  Am.  Jour.  Plianu. 
X     August,  1882. 
I  next  prepared  ^9-metliyl-morpliia  in  the  manner  described  hy 
Hesse,  using  equal  molecules  of  the  substances  and  potassic  in  place  of 
sodic  hydroxide,  as  employed  by  Grimaux.  After  digestion  of  the 
alcoholic  solution  on  the  water-bath  for  an  hour,  hydrochloric  acid  was 
added  to  neutralization,  and  the  spirit  evaporated.  The  residue  was 
treated  with  potash  in  excess  and  exhausted  with  ether.  When  left  to 
spontaneous  evaporation,  the  ether  yielded  large  crystals  having  all  the 
appearance  of  codeia.  These  crystals  were  converted  into  muriate, 
which  was  crystallized  two  or  three  times.  The  salt  thus  obtained 
resembled  the  ordinary  codeia  hydrochloride.  By  allowing  a  hot 
aqueous  solution  to  cool,  the  solubility  obtained  for  15°C.  was  1  in 
23*4.  I  refrain  from  entering  much  into  detail,  as  I  intend  to  have 
the  subject  thoroughly  investigated,  especially  as  regards  the  optical 
properties  of  the  substances. 
Reviewing  the  results  obtained  by  Grimaux,  Hesse,  and  myself,  I 
regard  it  as  almost  certain  that  codeia  «-methyl-morphia "  and 
^'  /9-methyi-morpliia  are  one  and  the  same.  It  is  difficult  to  account 
for  the  behavior  of  Hesse's  /9-methyl-morphia  hydrochloride,  as  it  is 
quite  at  variance  with  my  experiments,  both  as  regards  solubility  and 
loss  of  water  at  100°C.  I  have  a  strong  impression  that  the  salt  he 
worked  with  was  impure.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  the 
only  difference  which  has  been  observed  between  codeia  and  a-niethyl- 
morphia  is  the  slight  variation  in  their  rotatory  power.  I  agree  with 
M.  Grimaux  in  not  attributing  great  importance  to  this.  It  is  proba- 
bly due  to  the  persistent  presence  of  some  impurity,  Avhich  is"  dextro- 
rotatory or  optically  indifferent.  In  common  with  Hesse,  I  would 
discountenance  the  proposal  of  Grimaux  to  name  the  ethers  of  morphia 
"  codeines."  There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  advantage  in  such  a 
name,  which  could  only  lead  to  confusion.  When  the  constitution  of 
these  bases  is  fully  understood  a  satisfactory  systematic  nomenclature 
may  then  be  intj^-oduced . — Fhar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  June  10,  1882. 
THE  METHYL  ETHERS  OF  MORPHINE. 
Bv  O.  Hesse. 
In  a  former  communication  I  drew  a  distinction  between  «-methyl- 
morphine,  which  body  I  obtained  through  the  action  of  methyl  iodide 
upon  morphine-sodium,  and  ^^-methyl-morphine,  which  alone  could  be 
".obtained  l\v  the  action  of  methyl  iodide  upon  morphine-potassium.  In 
