Summary
Iodine values determined with pyridine sulfate dibromide tended to increase with reaction time and amount of excess reagent. There was some evidence of halogen substitution in polymerized linseed oil and in pure compounds. Mercuric acetate used to catalyze halogen addition in this method also appeared to promote degeneration of the reagent. In the absence of reagent, the catalyst had no dehydrogenating action on oils, but reduced their iodine value, apparently by promoting oxidation, and by reacting at the double bond. Iodine value decreased with reaction time when the catalyst was used in the presence of chloroform, and high and erratic results were obtained in the presence of sulfur. Comparative iodine values with an iodine‐chlorine reagent also tended to increase with prolonged reaction, but were only slightly affected by the presence of sulfur or chloroform.