Ketene

Abstract

WHILE engaged in a research on the polymerisation of unsaturated compounds, we were led to try the action of a strongly heated platinum wire on various organic substances. It is unnecessary at this stage to discuss our general results, and we will therefore deal at once with the action of the wire on acetic anhydride. This substance when treated with the hot wire yielded a compound boiling about —65° and freezing about —130°, which on standing at ordinary temperatures condensed fairly rapidly, yielding a brownish-yellow oil which, like the gas, has an extremely pungent smell. We have not yet succeeded in obtaining the new body in a completely pure state, but as our work has been interrupted for some time, we venture to give the following preliminary data.