Improvements in the Preparation of Ethyl Chloral Urethane.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar.. 1890-Accepted. 12th Apr. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Ethyl Chloral Urethane.
I, SIEGMUND RADLAUER, of 160, Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, W, in the Empire of
Germany, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the preparation of ethyl chloral urethane.
If equal quantities of chloral, urethane and alcohol of 90 per cent. are left to act
upon each other for two hours at a temperature of about 100 degrees in a vacuum-
apparatus such as is usually employed by apothecaries a clear liquid is produced which
constitutes a concentrated solution of a newly formed substance, ethyl chloral
urethane.
In order to identify this new substance the concentrated solution is allowed to cool
in the vacuum-apparatus to 5 degrees when the ethyl chloral urethane, which I term
"somnal," is precipitated in a crystalline form from the mother liquor. For cleaning
the product it can be crystallized several times in water. The empiric formula of the
new substance is C, H₁₂ C, O, N, this substance therefore differs from the well-known
chloral urethane in further containing 20 and 4 H. An elementary analysis of this
substance showed the latter to contain 33.53 per cent. of carbon 4.79 per cent. of
hydrogen, 42.51 per cent. of chlorine and 19·16 per cent. of oxygen. The crystals,
which have a melting point of 42 degrees and a boiling point of about 145 degrees
(in the vacuum apparatus), are very hygroscopic, and very readily deliquesce in the
air. For commercial purposes it is therefore preferable to produce the ethyl chloral
urethane or somnal in the form of a concentrated solution prepared according to the
above-described process. This solution is ready for immediate use, and may be diluted
if necessary.
Dated this 20th day of Tanza1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Ethyl Chloral Urethane.
1, SIEGMUND RADLAUER, of 160, Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, W, in the Empire of
Germany, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to the preparation of ethyl chloral urethane.
If equal quantities of chloral, urethane and alcohol of 90 per cent. are left to act
upon each other for two hours at a temperature of about 100 degrees in a vacuum-
apparatus such as is usually employed by apothecaries a clear liquid is produced which
constitutes a concentrated solution of a newly formed substance, ethyl chloral
urethane.
In order to identify this new substance the concentrated solution is allowed to cool
in the vacuum-apparatus to 5 degrees when the ethyl chloral urethane, which I term
"somnal," is precipitated in a crystalline form from the mother liquor.
The
For cleaning the product it can be crystallized several times in water.
empiric formula of the new substance is (, H₁₂ C, O, N, this substance therefore
differs from the well-known chloral urethane in further containing 2 C and 4 H.
An elementary analysis of this substance showed the latter to contain 33.53 per cent.
of carbon, 4.79 per cent. of hydrogen, 42.51 per cent. of chlorine and 19.16 per cent.
of oxygen. The crystals, which have a melting point of 42 degrees and a boiling

page_text: point of about 145 degrees (in the vacuum apparatus), are very hygroscopic and very
readily deliquesce in the air.
For commercial purposes it is therefore preferable to produce the ethyl chloral
urethane or somnal in the form of a concentrated solution prepared according to the
above-described process.
This solution is ready for immediate use, and may be diluted if necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The preparation of an hypnotic "somnal" by the action of equal quantities of
chloral, urethane and alcohol of 90 per cent. in a vacuum apparatus at a temperature
of about 100 degrees and by crystallization in water.
Dated this 12th day of March 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.