PROPYL sometimes called trityl—from TplTos, third—is the third organic radical in the aeries It is the assumed root of the members of the propylic, or tritylic, group of organic com pounds. The following are the only members of the propylic group at present known.
Propylene Tritylene. This gas is one of the products of the decomposition of amylic alcohol on passing through a red hot porcelain tube. It is moat readily prepared by distilling one part of iodopropy Ione with five of mereury-and two of concentrated hydrochloric acid, It is evolved in a tolerably copious stream, one ounce of lodopropyl yielding more than 150 cubio inches of gars Propylene has a peculiar odour somewhat resembling olefiant gas, a sweetish suffocating taste, and a ap. gr. of 1-498. It is tolerably soluble in alcohol, but water absorbs only about one-eighth of its bulk. It may be liquifies] by great pressure.
lodo-propylene, or iodide of allyl I) is formed on distilling a mixture of equal parts of iodide of phosphorus and syrupy glycerin. It is a colourless liquid of ap. gr. 1-789, of ethereal alliaceous odour, a sweet but irritating taste, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol or ether. It rapidly becomes brown on exposure to air.
Iodide of propylene (C,11,, 1j. At a slightly elevated temperature, iodine aleorbs propylene and forms a colourless liquid of ethereal odour, and density It rapidly decomposes in contact with air.
Chloridct and bromides of propylene. Chlorine and bromine act upon propylene in much the same way as upon Krutsests, and the resulting compounds yield chlor- or brom-propyleues when treated With alcoholic potash. The following are the compounds referred to :— Hydrate of propyl, or propylic alcohol (C.I1,0,110), is contained,
along with amylic alcohol, in the last portions of the distillate in the first rectification of spirits of wine. It is separated by fractional dis tillation. It. is a limpid liquid, lighter than water, and of agreeable fruity odour. It is very soluble in water, and boils at about 205° Fahr.
Chloride of propyl (C.1=1„ Cl). Fuming hydrochloric acid slowly absorbs propylene at 212° Fehr. ; on saturating the liquid with car bonate of soda, chloride of propyl is obtained. It is a liquid lighter than, and insoluble in, water; boils at 104' Fehr., and in odour, taste, and inflammability, much resembles chloride of ethyl.
Propyl-sulphuric add HO, is formed on mixing pro nylic alcohol with sulphuric acid. Diluted with eight or ten times its bulk of water, saturated with carbonate of potash, evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in boiling absolute alcohol and set aside, furnishes acicular crystals of propyl-sulphate of potash KO, Propyfamine ( Cs IN). Tritylamine. Dleracelamine. Onyla 11 mine. This body Is formed on acting upon iodopropyleue with ammonia ; it may be extracted by caustic potash. It is an oily body very soluble in water, of ammoniacal odour and alkaline reaction. It boils between 122' and 140' Fahr. It combines with acids to form salts : the chloroplatinate contains (C,H,,N, IICI, PtCI,).
Arsenide of propyl. One of the products of the distillation of a mixture of arsenious acid and dry butyrate of lime appears to be arsenide of propyl, but it has not been thoroughly examined. It does not Ignite spontaneously.