Abstract
1. When methyloglyoxal was treated with alkali, the hydrogenion concentration of which was below pH 13, the transformation of methylglyoxal into lactic acid was not quantitative. Over and besides lactic acid, formic and acetic acids, and some reducing substance or substances of an unknown nature were produced. The sum of these reaction products was not sufficient to account for the amount of methylglyoxal which disappeared.
2. Alkalinity and temperature were important factors which exerted influence on the quantity of the reaction products.
3. An appreciable increase of reducing power was also noticed when the disappearance of methylglyoxal was greatly accelerated by the addition of alkali cyanide.
