C16H

PYRENE  ,o, a hydrocarbon found together with chrysene in the last portion of the coal tar distillate, and also in " Stupp " fat . The crude solid product from the tar distillate is digested with carbon bisulphide to dissolve the pyrene, the solution filtered and the solvent evaporated . The residue is dissolved in alcohol and to the cold saturated solution a cold alcoholic solution of picric acid is added . The picrate so formed is then decomposed by ammonia . On its separation from " Stupp " fat see E . Bamberger and M . Philip, Ann., 1887, 240, p . 161 . It crystallizes in monoclinic tables which melt at 148-149° C . Chromic acid oxidizes it to pyrene quinone, C,6H,02, and pyrenic acid, C16H,606 . The picrate, which is easil1 soluble in benzene, crystallizes in long red needles melting at 222 . When heated with hydriodic acid and phosphorus to zoo° C. it yields a hexahydride .

It has been obtained synthetically by M .

Freund and H . Michaels (Ber., 1897, 30, p . 1383) by distilling thebenol over zinc dust in a stream of hydrogen, or by the action of hydriodic acid and phosphorus at 220° C. on thebenol .