XXV.—On Meconic Acid, and some of its Derivatives

Extract

In a paper on Comenic Acid, read before this Society in April of last year, and since honoured with a place in its Transactions, I mentioned my being engaged in an investigation on Meconic Acid; the details of the experiments referred to form the matter of the present communication.

My object in undertaking this subject was to ascertain if products corresponding to those described as derived from comenic acid were formed under similar circumstances in the case of meconic acid. I also thought it probable, that as the former is itself a derivative of the latter, the changes undergone by meconic acid in some reactions, would be found to result in substances apparently the immediate derivatives of comenic acid. This remark refers to the action of heat on meconate of ammonia; and it will be seen that the expectation was realised. A similar result was found in other instances, where it had not been anticipated.