most probably of compounds which are substituted in the benzene. residues of diphenyltetrazine-their melting points being above 200°. Besides the substances above mentioned, however, another compound is produced at the same time; this is always formed by acting with bromine on the base, either in dilute or in concentrated acetic acid solution. This brominated derivative remains dissolved in the glacial acetic acid, and is thrown down by water as a brown precipitate, which is easily soluble in alcohol, and crystallises from dilute methylated spirit in faintly coloured needles which melt at 131°. Analysis proved it to be a diphenyldibromotetrazine. The difference between the properties of this compound and those of the others renders it most probable that this has the constitution CH, N⚫N:CBr BrC:N N.C.H。 The remarkable formation of a very stable compound by the action of chloroform and alcoholic potash on phenylhydrazine led me to repeat this reaction with other hydrazines, in order to determine whether they give rise to analogous compounds. I have as yet only studied the Action of Chloroform and Alcoholic Potash on Paratolylhydrazine. The operations were conducted in the manner described above, namely, alcoholic potash was gradually added to the solution of the hydrazine in chloroform and alcohol, the product diluted with water, shaken with ether, the unaltered base removed by means of dilute sulphuric acid, and the ethereal solution evaporated. The residue, which is an odourless oil, partially solidifies after a short time. The mass of crystals was then washed with methylated spirit and dissolved in hot alcohol, and the solution decolorised by boiling with animal charcoal; on cooling, it deposited faintly yellow plates, which melt at 185°. They are less soluble in alcohol than diphenyltetrazine, although easily soluble in glacial acetic acid. The results of analysis, the molecular weight determinations, and the chemical behaviour, show that this compound has a constitution analogous to that of the body formed from phenylhydrazine. It is, therefore, to be regarded as paraditolyltetrazine. N:CH Its formula, CH, CH, N<CH:N>N•CH, CH,, requires the following values: The molecular weight of this substance was determined by Raoult's method, with the following result: Besides this substance there is also produced formylparatolylhydrazine, the formation of which corresponds to that observed in the case of phenylhydrazine. This compound is contained in the alcoholic filtrate from the substance C16H16N,, and can be extracted by boiling water from the resin which is left behind when the filtrate is evaporated. The aqueous solution, after decolorisation, deposits white plates which melt at 164°, and on analysis proved to be formylparatolylhydrazine. The following numbers correspond to its formula, CH,CHNH NH CHO: This substance was also prepared by heating formamide with paratolylhydrazine in an oil-bath at a temperature of 130°, until ammonia ceased to be evolved. The resulting solid mass was recrystallised from water, when crystals were obtained which had the same melting point as the substance formed in the isonitrile reaction, and gave, on analysis, 18.80 per cent. nitrogen. Formylparatolylhydrazine is very soluble in alcohol, sparingly in cold water, and in benzene or chloroform, and less soluble in boiling water than formylphenylhydrazine. I am at present engaged in the further study of the two tetrazines described above, and intend also to extend the investigation of the action of chloroform and alcoholic potash to other hydrazines. In conclusion, I may add that the formation of the formyl-derivatives of the hydrazines in this reaction led me to make some experiments with the view of producing the tetrazines from them by splitting off water, but as yet I have not been able to effect this reaction in a simple manner. I am still, however, working in this direction, and hope to be able to communicate to the Society satisfactory results. University Laboratory, ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, March 21st, 1889. W. Crookes, F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The pleasant duty again devolves on me to present to you the annual report on the state of the Chemical Society during the twelve months just past. The following tabular statement shows the numerical position of the Society : Number of Fellows (March 28th, 1888) 1534 They Our losses from death include several well-known names. are on the home list :-Professor Brazier, John Collins, R. Cartmell, J. J. Coleman, W. F. Donkin, H. C. Foote, Peter Griess, A. N. Gow, John Horsley, J. M. Kavanagh, J. D. Perrins, Dr. David Price, F. G. Ree, J. Robinson, W. O. Senier, J. Denham Smith, J. Storey, James Taylor, J. S. Topham, Thomas Ward, Dr. W. Wallace, G. J. Wishart, John Williams. And one Foreign Member, Professor H. Debray. Withdrawn :-R. Byramjee, C. B. Caswell, Dr. E. A. Cook, R. Coulthard, P. N. Datta, Charles E. Ellis, F. A. Genth, Jun., C. H. Gimingham, Andrew Henderson, Edward Hunter, W. J. Noble, Walter Pearce, Dr. B. W. Richardson, J. P. Smith, Ed. S. Spalding, and Oswald Wilkinson. Removals on account of non-payment of subscriptions:-J. B. Bardsley, William Bedford, R. G. Blaine, Professor A. C. Dixon, A. E. Drinkwater, U. K. Dutt, Rev. W. H. Eley, E. H. Farmer, W. F. Fremersdorff, F. G. Holmes, J. J. Knight, J. L. Muspratt, Robert Marr, S. R. Pontifex, Thomas Perry, R. H. Ridout, G. H. Rutter, W. Robinson, Franz Rindskopf, F. M. Sexton, and J. W. Stevens. In the year 1888, there were 75 original papers published in the Journal, occupying 895 pages, as compared with 88 papers of 871 pages in 1887. The Abstracts in 1888 occupy 1351 pages, compared with 1159 in 1887. The number of Abstracts is 2470 compared with 2277 in 1887. 103 papers have been communicated to the Society this session. Several of these papers were published in full in the Proceedings, and Abstracts of all have also there been given. The Proceedings of the Chemical Society, appearing as it does soon after each evening meeting, is valuable as affording country members a rapid and trustworthy account of what goes on at our Society, and has now taken a well established position as an independent publica tion. Our Library continues to increase, and every year becomes richer in rare volumes and books of reference. The duplicate library for lending is also becoming increasingly useful. The following table shows the present state of our shelves : The expenditure under this head for the current year is £308 5s. 6d. The following table shows the position of the Journal during the past year, as compared with the previous four years : * Including 170 vols. Dingler's Polytechnisches Journal. |