XI. One the constitution of the essential oil of rue

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Abstract
The essential oil procured by distillation of the rue plant with water, has already been examined by several chemists. It was analysed many years ago by Will, who deduced from his analyses the expression C 28 H 28 O 3 . But at that time far too little was known about the oxygenated essential oils to permit of their accurate investigation. A more minute series of experiments, made by Gerhardt in 1848, led him to conclude that oil of rue consisted principally of the capric aldehyde, contaminated by a small quantity of some hydrocarbon. This view was considered to be confirmed by the production of capric acid when the oil underwent oxidation by means of nitric acid. But the production of an acid containing C 20 merely rendered it probable that the rue oil did not contain less than 20 equivalents of carbon; it was no proof that it did not contain more . In fact, the action of nitric acid varies with its concentration. Guided by ideas which need not now be detailed, I made in 1858 some experiments, with the intention of obtaining from oil of rue certain bodies of the capric series, but they only served to convince me that the views then entertained regarding the constitution of the oil were erroneous. Some curious reactions were observed, but the experiments diverging into other channels have not, as yet, been renewed. Previous to recommencing them, it has been thought necessary to make a fresh examination of the oil; the results form the subject of this communication.

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