It is not absolutely necessary to remove the last traces of water from the alcohol-carbon tetrachloride layer by means of potassium carbonate before returning it to the reaction mixture; this process is, however, so simple and requires so little attention that there is no doubt that it is of material aid in cutting down the time of operation. The advantages of using crystallized oxalic acid and commercial 95 per cent alcohol, instead of the anhydrous reagents, are obvious. When technical oxalic acid is used, the yields are usually smaller by 5 to 10 per cent. The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 may be somewhat more simply constructed by using rubber connections in several places, thus eliminating a certain amount of glass blowing, and making a more flexible piece of apparatus. The side-arm of the separator may be made with two rubber connections,-- one above and one below the tube leading to the potassium carbonate tube. The long return tube to the flask may be constructed with a rubber joint very near the carbonate tube and one near the flask. 3. Other Methods of Preparation Ethyl oxalate has been prepared in poor yields by the following methods: by distilling a mixture of anhydrous oxalic acid and absolute alcohol;[1] by heating a mixture of anhydrous oxalic acid and 97 per cent alcohol under a reflux condenser and fractionating the resulting mixture;[2] by distilling a mixture of anhydrous oxalic acid and absolute alcohol, the vapor of absolute alcohol being passed simultaneously into the mixture;[3] by allowing a saturated solution of oxalic acid in alcohol to stand for a long time at 40-50'0.[4] A good yield has been obtained by Anschutz[5] by a method involving saturation of a mixture of crystallized oxalic acid and alcohol with hydrogen chloride, removal of the alcohol and water by distillation under reduced pressure, and repetition of the treatment with the alcohol and hydrogen chloride, the process being carried out several times. [1] Jahresb. 1861, 598. [2] J prakt. Chem. (2), 34, 500 (1886). [3] Monatsh. 17, 614 (1896). [4] Ann. 65, 350 (1848). [5] Ber. 16, 2414 (1883), VII ETHYL PHENYLACETATE C6H5CH2CN + C2H5OH + H2SO4 + H2O--> C6H5CH2CO2C2H5 + NH4HSO4 Prepared by ROGER ADAMS and A. F. THAL. Checked by OLIVER KAMM. 1. Procedure