VII. On a new series of compounds derived from ammonia and its analogues

Abstract

Although zincethyl and its homologues are now well known to be capable of replacing electro-negative elements by ethyl, &c., yet it could scarcely have been anticipated, that substitutions of an almost opposite character would be effected by the same reagent; nevertheless I find that zincethyl is capable of removing one of the atoms of hydrogen in ammonia and its analogues, and of replacing it by zinc, thus forming a series of bodies which strongly remind us of the amide and nitride of potassium. The general nature of this reaction by which the compounds described below are produced, may be thus expressed.