(2) With n-Butyl Alcohol alone.
The previous experiment showed that n-butyl alcohol would decompose the diazo compound in the presence of sodium carbonate and replace the amino group by hydrogen, so this time a decomposition with the alcohol alone was tried. Decomposition took place evenly and smoothly as before at the same temperature, and the solution became a clear brownish-orange. Aldehyde was given off and tested for as before with positive results. The alcohol was removed by distillation and a thick brownish syrupy liquid was left. This was easily soluble in water, so was dissolved, filtered, and the solution used in the following experiments. At this point it is similar in every way to the solution obtained by Griffin (loc. cit.) from the diazo compound of para toluidine meta sulphonic acid.
Subsequent preparations of this syrup were made in the above way with similar results in every case. The only precaution to be observed is that no part of the flask containing the reaction mixture be allowed to become too hot as the diazo compound is then decomposed violently leaving a grayish ash.