CINNAMIC ACID AND VIE CINNAMYL SERIES. Cinnamyl is a compound radical, as yet unisolated, which is represented by the formula and which includes amongst its compounds cinnamic acid oil of cinnamon, which is chemically a slightly impure aldehyde of cinnamic acid, or a hydride of cinnamyl (C,,,II,0,11), chloride of cinnamyl styrone or pernvine. known chemically as cinnamic alcohol cinnamol and styrol, each represented by the formula and styracin (C,,,II.04). We shall briefly notice the most important of these compounds—viz., cinnamic acid and oil of cinnamon. Cinnamic acid (C,1111804) crystallizes in colorless prisms, which are sparingly soluble in cold water, but dissolve readily in boiling water, alcohol, and ether. It fuses at and boils with or without decomposition, according to the manner in which it is heated, at about 570'. It is converted by most decomposing agents into benzoyl compoundS, such as benzoic acid, oil of bitter almonds. etc.; for example, when fused with hydrate of potash, it the elements of water, and breaks up into acetic and benzoic acids; when boiled with peroxide of lead, it is converted into oil of bitter almonds and benzoic acid, etc. It exists naturally in a free state in liquid storax, the balsams of
Tat and Peru, and gum benzoin, and is often deposited in large crystals from old sam ples of oil of cinnamon and from cinnamon water. It is always formed from oil of cinnamon when the latter is exposed to the action of the air, and it has been syntheti cally or artificially formed by exposing equivalent quantities of chloracetyl (C411.0,C1) and oil of bitter almonds (C1411802) to a prolonged heat in a closed glass tube. Oil of Ci11114111011, and °lief eas.4a, although prepared from different kinds of trees, arc virtually identical in their composition, each consisting mainly of cinnamic aldehyde, or hydride of cinuamyl, mixed with certain resinous matters. Oil of cinnamon is an article of the materia medico.. and in doses of one minim to a five-grain pill, forms an excellent aro matic addition to cathartic pill-masses.