VALERIANIC GROUP. A cluster of chemical substances, each supposed to contain, or be derived from, the theoretical radical ralcryl (C,„H.0,).
Valtraenic acid is best produced by the action of strong oxidising agents on fusel oil. [VALERIANIC ACID.] Valeryl-aldehyd or valeral (C,.11„0„ II), hydride of raleryl,is formed on oxidising fusel oil (amylic alcohol) with less powerful agents thou those necessary to form valerianic acid. Thus a mixture of bichro mate of potash, sulphuric acid, and fusel oil furnishes vaicral. It is purified by mixing with a saturated solution of bisulphite of soda, recrystallising the double salt thus formed, distilling with carbonate of potash, and drying the distillate over chloride of calcium. Valeral is a colourless limpid liquid of powerful penetrating odour, and burn ing taste; soluble in alcohol, ether, and the volatile oils ; insoluble hi water; burns with a bright flame; boils at 230° Fehr.; vapour density, ; gravity, at 71° Fehr., is ; oxidising agents convert it into valet-Lune acid, and ammonia combines with it to form crystalline raleryl-altlehyd-ammonium or alcrylide of ammonium (C,„11 ,,O, NH,).
Videraftline results from the action of sulphide of hydrogen on valerybammonium suspended in water containing a small quantity of free ammonia :— It is an oily, volatile, alkaline liquid of disagreeable odour, and com bines with acids to form salts.
Leucin, a body associated with the chemistry of animal substances, appears to be a valeryl derivative, inasmuch as it may be formed by the action of hydrocyanic and hydrochloric acids upon valerylide of ammonium. It is treated of in detail in a separate article. [LEUCIN.] of valeryl Cl) is formed on reacting with chloride of phosphorus and monohydrated valerianic acid. It is a colourless mobile, finning, liquid; rather heavier than water, and boils at about 240° Fahr.
Bromide of valeryl Br), is obtained iu the same manner as the chloride, the bromide instead of the chloride of phosphorus being used. It boils at about 290° Fahr.
Valerone (C,,,11„0,), the valcrylide of butyl (C,,11„, is a light colourless liquid of agreeable ethereal odour, produced when valeri anic acid is distilled with excess of lime. A mixture of valerate of
potash and acetate of soda yields, by distillation, an oil which is pro bably valcrylide of methyl Valeramide (N ) is formed by boiling valeriauic ether H (valerate of ethyl) with strong ammonia : on concentrating and cooling the solution, valeramide crystallises out in brilliaut plates. It is neutral, fusible, volatile, and soluble in water, alcohol, or ether. Heated with phosphoric anhydride it loses the elements of water and is con verted into cyanide of butyl (CJI„NC,) or valeronitrile N).
Valeronitrile is also one of the products of the oxidation of gelatin by chromic acid ; it is accompanied by another somewhat similar liquid" raleracetonitrile (C.„11„N,O,„). ralcranilide or phenyl-ralera snide (N is produced on digesting valeriauic anhydride and aniline together. It crystallises in long, brilliaut needles, slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in alcohol ; melts at 239° Fahr., and boils without decomposition at 428° Fahr.
ralerins. Combinations of valerianic acid and glycerin. Three of these have been obtained, namely:— The proportion of the constituents, the temperature employed and the state of concentration of the mixture, determines which of the three shall be formed. Valeroeldorhydrin is a valerin containing the elements of hydrochloric acid.
Va1e•y/-urea or 'ralerureide has already beeu alluded to [Unsa].
Oi/ of valerian, obtained as described under ESSENTIAL otbs, generally contains about 5 per cent. of valerianic acid ; 25 per cent. of a neutral volatile hydrocarbon, boiling at 160° Fahr., and termed ralerene identical with the borneene of Borneo camphor ; and about 70 per cent. of an oxidised portion containing resin and valerol. Valerol (C„11„,0,) is a stearopten, and condenses as a crystalline solid in the neck of the retort in which the oil of valerian is fractionated. It is lighter than water, in which it is insoluble ; is readily dissolved by alcohol, ether, and essential oils ; is resinified slowly in the air, more readily by nitric acid; and with sulphuric acid forms blood-red dulphoralcrblic add.