Chemistry of Essential Oils

FLACOUKTIACE^E 533

The fluorescence of the oil is due to a basic compound which was
isolated by Schneider
:
and termed by him damascenine. This body has
the formula C 10 H1 3 NO 3 , and melts at 26°. It is probably the methyl
ester of methylamino-methoxybenzoic acid of the constitution.

C. OCH 3

HC/\C. NHCH 3

HC\^/C.CO.OCH 3

/ITT

The seeds of Nigella sativa* yield 1/4 per cent, of oil having the
following characters :—

Specific gravity 0'875 to 0'886

Optical rotation + 1° 26' to + 3°

Refractive index 1-4836 to 1'4844

Acid value ......... 0 „ 2

, up „ 32

„ „ (after acetylation „ „ 73

FLACOURTIACEj€.

OIL OF PHOBEKOS COCHINCHINENSIS.

According to Eoure-Bertrand Fils^3 the green leaves and stalks of this
tree, found wild in Annam, yield a small quantity of an oil resembling
sweet orange oil in odour. It has the following characters :—

Specific gravity 0*9042

Optical rotation + 3° 2'

Acid value ;.. 2'5

Ester „ 51-1

„ „ (after acetylation) 127-9

. Central., 31 (1890), 173, 191.

(^2) Schimmel's Bericlit, April, 1895, 74.
(^3) Report, April, 1914, 7.