Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Aug.  1,  1873.  J 
Essence  of  Alan-Gilan. 
373 
to  the  left.  It  passes  over  entirely  in  distillation  without  leaving 
any  carbonaceous  residue,  but  within  very  extended  limits  of  tem- 
perature, ebullition  commencing  at  about  160°  C,  and  the  tempera- 
ture continuing  to  rise  till  beyond  300°  C. 
The  essence  is  insoluble  in  water,  but  entirely  soluble  in  ether ; 
alcohol  only  partially  dissolves  it.  The  insoluble  portion  taken  up 
in  ether  appears  after  the  evaporation  of  that  solvent  as  a  semi-fluid, 
transparent  mass.  About  one-fourth  of  the  essence  yields  this  pro- 
duct. 
Nitric  acid  attacks  ylang-ylang  with  great  energy,  intense  vapors 
being  disengaged  in  the  cold,  and  by  the  addition  of  water  a  resin  is 
obtained  presenting  a  great  analogy  with  that  which  is  formed  by 
oxidation  of  benzoin  by  means  of  the  same  reagent.  Bisulphite  of 
sodium  is  without  action  upon  this  essence.  Potash,  on  the  contrary, 
when  sufficiently  concentrated  and  used  at  a  suitable  temperature, 
gives  rise  to  a  kind  of  saponification.  If  the  alkaline  portion  be  re- 
moved, and  a  fresh  quantity  of  potash  added,  and  the  treatment  be 
repeated  until  the  essence  is  no  longer  attacked,  a  substance  is  left 
which  is  insoluble  in  water.  The  aqueous  portion,  upon  the  addition 
of  hydrochloric  acid,  deposits  a  solid  body  having  a  crystalline  aspect. 
This  dissolves  with  facility  in  boiling  water  ;  the  solution,  being  fil- 
tered to  separate  a  small  quantity  of  resinous  matter,  yields  upon 
cooling  white  pearly  plates.  This  body  melts  at  about  120°  C,  h 
volatilizes  very  readily,  and  is  deposited  upon  the  cool  sides  of  the 
vessel  in  shining  needles,  and  boils  regularly  at  about  245°  C.  These 
are  the  physical  properties  of  benzoic  acid,  and  this  substance  has 
also  its  chemical  properties.  In  fact  if  a  small  quantity  be  heated 
in  presence  of  an  excess  of  lime,  an  oil  is  separated  which  is  insolu- 
ble in  water,  and  possesses  the  odor  and  properties  of  benzole. 
Treated  with  perchloride  of  phosphorus,  an  energetic  reaction  takes 
place,  and  the  piquant  and  characteristic  odor  of  chloride  of  benzole 
becomes  manifest.  A  few  drops  of  this  latter  body  with  alcohol 
yielded  benzoic  ether.  For  greater  certainty  M.  Gal  submitted  some 
of  this  acid  to  analysis.  0-276  of  matter,  ignited  by  means  of  oxide 
of  copper,  gave  0*126  of  water  and  0*696  of  carbonic  acid. 
G 
H 
Found. 
68*7 
5-0 
Calculated. 
68*8 
4-9 
