Oil of Daphnandra Aromatica

The bark gave (Jones and Smith, Proc. Roy. Soc.Queensland, 1923, 35, 61-2, viaP.P.O.P., 1925,16,179) 0.3 per cent of a dark amber-coloured oil with the odour of sassafras, specific gravity at 15°/15, 1.077, optical rotation—1 9°, refractive index 1.525. When 150 c.c. were fractionated at 130 mm. pressure, the following fractions were obtained 70-80°, 4 C.C. 80-128°, 4 c.c. 129-130°, 140 c.c. The oil consisted chiefly of safrole (95 per cent). 

The air-dried leaves gave about 0.5 per cent of a light yellow oil, specific gravity at 15°/15, 0.9181, optical rotation -i-337 , refractive index 1.489, ester value 20, acetyl value 3.5. This oil contained 5 to 10 per cent of ci-pinene, 20 to 25 per cent of h-a-phellandrene, 10 to 15 per cent of cineole, sesquiterpenes 30 to 40 per cent, sesquiterpene alcohols 5 to 10 per with traces of aldehydes, phenols and esters. 

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