STRUCTURE OF SERRATAMIC ACID 669 obtained was applied to a paper along with L-serine and authentic a-alanine and the chromatogram run in 80% phenol. Development with ninhydrin showed the product to have the same RF value as a-a]anine. 2:3-Epoxydecanoic acid. Freshly distilled octyl aldehyde (5.7 g.) and ethyl chloroacetate (5.5 g.) in dry ether (100 ml.) were added to sodium methoxide (from 10 g. of Na) suspended in dry ether. After standing for 48 hr. at room temp. water was added, and the ether layer was separated and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. The oil left after removal of the solvent was purified by vacuum distillation, yielding ethyl 2:3-epoxydecanoate (6 g., b.p. 90-93o/0.1 mm.). Saponification rapidly occurred on the addition of an excess of 12% (w/v) KOH in methanol at room temp., with the * Part 2: Hestrin & Schramm (1954). For a preliminary communication on someexperimentsdescribedinthepresent paper and results obtained in a tracer analysis of cellulose production, see Schramm, Gromet & Hestrin (1957).