A VIOLET COLORING MATTER FROM MORPHINE.

A violet coloring matter is formed, together with other substances, by boiling for 100 hours in a reflux apparatus a mixture of morphine (seven grammes), p-nitrosodimethylaniline hydrochloride (five grammes), and alcohol (500 c.c.).  The solution gradually assumes a red brown color, and a quantity of tetramethyldiamidoazobenzene separates in a crystalline state.  After filtering from the latter, the alcoholic solution is evaporated to dryness, and the residue boiled with water, a deep purple colored solution being so obtained.  This solution, which contains at least two coloring matters, is evaporated almost to dryness, acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and then rendered alkaline with sodium hydrate, the coloring matters being precipitated and the unchanged morphine remaining in solution.  The precipitate is collected on a filter, washed with dilute sodium hydrate, dried, and extracted in the cold with amyl alcohol, which dissolves out a violet coloring matter, and leaves in the residue a blue coloring matter or mixture of coloring matters.  The violet coloring matter is obtained in a pure state on evaporating the amyl alcohol.  Its platinochloride has the formula PtCl_{4}.C_{25}H_{29}N_{3}O_{4}.HCl, and has the characteristic properties of the platinochlorides of the majority of alkaloids.  The coloring matter, of which the free base has the formula—­

    (C_{6}H_{4}N(CH_{3})_{2})—&
shy;N==(C_{17}H_{19}NO_{4})

forms an amorphous mass with a bronze-like luster; it is sparingly soluble in water, freely so in alcohol, its alcoholic solution being strongly dichroic; its green colored solution in concentrated sulphuric acid becomes successively blue and violet on dilution with water; it dyes silk, wool, and gun cotton, but is not fast to light.

Morphine violet is the first true coloring matter obtained from the natural alkaloids, the morphine blue of Chastaing and Barillot (Compt.  Rend., 105, 1012) not being a coloring matter properly so called. —­P.  Cazeneuve, Bull.  Soc.  Chim.

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LIQUID BLUE FOR DYEING.

The new liquid blue of M. Dornemann is intended to avoid the formation of clots, etc., which lead to irregularity in shade, if not to the formation of spots on the textile.  In addition to accomplishing this end, the process is accelerated by subjecting the blue to a previous treatment.

In this preliminary treatment of the blue, the object is to remove the sulphur which retards the solution of the color.

The liquid is prepared as follows:  The pigment, previously dried at 150 deg.  C., is crushed and finely ground, and contains about 47 per cent. of coloring matter; to this is added 53 per cent. of water.

To this mixture, or slurry, the inventor adds an indefinite quantity of glucose and glycerine of 43 deg.  B., having a specific gravity of 1.425.  It is then ready for use.—­Le Moniteur de la Teinture.