A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

TSS CARBON COMPOUNDS, 217
liquescent crystals grouped in rosettes. The a oxybntyrates crystallize
well; the zinc-salt is sparingly soluble in water.
By the action of ammonia upon a bromobutyric acid, butalanine or
a amidobutyric acid C8H6(NH,>)CO3H is obtained, which crystallizes
in small needles,
The formation of oxybutyric acid from butyric acid corresponds to
that of lactic acid from propionic acid, from which it follows that
both oxyacids must have a similar constitution, i.e. the hydroxyl being
combined with that carbon atom which is linked to the carboxyE
This appears the more probable as it has been found as a rule that
by the action of chlorine ox bromine upon carbon atoms substitution
always takes place in the neighbourhood of other negative elements
(Cl, Br, 0), The constitution of a oxybutyric acid is explained by the
following formulas:—
a Brombutyrle Acid. /3 Oxybutyric Acid.
CH3
Cfts
CHBr CH.0H
CO.OH CO.OH
j8 Oxybuttp'ic Acid.—By acting with acetyl chloride on monosodacetic
ether, the ethyl ether of acetyl-acetic acid is formed:—
CH8 CH.
I I
C0C1
CHaNa
CO |
CH8
+ NaCl
CO.0CaH6 C
On treating this ether with water and sodium amalgam it is converted
into sodium y9 oxybutyrate:—.
CH3
CHS
CO CH.0H
I
CH2
+ 2H3O + Na2 » |
CHa
+ NaOH + C.H..0H
CO.OC,H6
CO.ONa
By decomposing this salt with sulphuric acid, /8 oxybutyric acid is
obtained as a thick, syrupy, and very deliquescent liquid. The j8
oxybutyrates are very soluble in water, the zinc salt forming a brittle,
amorphous, and deliquescent mass.