FISSION of the rings of carbazole by oxidation methods has been attempted by several investigators. Graebe and Glaser (Ber., 1872, 5, 12) found that chromic acid in glacial acetic acid solution reacted very vigorously with carbazole, but the product isolated from the reaction mixture contained chromium, and was not identifiable. It is noteworthy that Branch and Smith (Y. Amer. Chem. SOC., 1920, 42, 2405)" obtained, by the oxidation of carb-* The results contained in the following communication

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... ere reported to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in October, 1919. The above-mentioned paper by Branch and Smith made it advisable to publish an account of our experiments, although they are at, present somewbat incomplete.