Royal Society. 649 



of constitution discovered by Wurtz may be conceived as basic. 

 The processes for preparing the compound are thus described by 

 Mr. Railton. 



1st. When three atoms of absolute alcohol are acted upon by one 

 atom of PCP, this compound is formed. The alcohol is introduced 

 into a retort which is connected with an apparatus for upward distil- 

 lation, and the retort is surrounded with a freezing mixture. The 

 terchloride is then added drop by drop, the whole is then gently 

 heated for some time, the vapour being allowed to run back into the 

 retort. It is now distilled and the portion which comes off between 

 140° C. and 196° C. collected and redistilled, that portion being pre- 

 served which boils between 188° and 191° C. The quantity of pure 

 aether obtained by this process was not large, and there was left in 

 the retort a considerable amount of PO^ and other products, which 

 on further heating evolved inflammable phosphuretted hydrogen. 



2nd. This aether is obtained with the greatest facility from sethyl- 

 ate of soda and terchloride of phosphorus. 



I introduce into a thirty ounce stoppered retort about a pint of 

 aether, which must be perfectly free from alcohol and from water. 

 The aethylate of soda is then added, and as much PCP is taken as 

 is necessary to form chloride of sodium and phosphite of sethyle. The 

 aether is absolutely necessary, for without it, the action of the PCP is 

 so violent, as to set fire to the aethylate. 



The PC13 is introduced into the mixture of aether and aethylate of 

 soda through a long funnel, which is drawn to an extremely fine 

 point; by which means it enters drop by drop into the mixture, thus 

 avoiding the violent action which otherwise occurs. 



The retort should be kept quite cool and frequently shaken. If 

 these precautions are neglected considerable loss is experienced. 



When the whole of the PCl^ has been added, the aether is distilled 

 off by a water -bath. The retort is then transferred to an oil-bath 

 which is gradually heated up to about 240° C. The whole of the 

 distillate obtained by the oil-bath is collected in a dry receiver, and 

 as it is prone to decomposition if distilled in air, it is distilled in an 

 atmosphere of hydrogen, the portion which comes ofi^ at 188° C. is 

 the phosphite of aethyle. I may here notice the remarkable fact, that 

 this substance has two boiling-points, as doubtless have many other 

 bodies, if distilled under similar circumstances. In air it boils at 

 191° C, while, as I said before, it boils in hydrogen at 188° C. Its 

 specific gravity is 1*075. 



3rd. The reaction which occurs on the formation of this aether 

 may be represented by the following formula : — 



3NaO, C*H50 + PCl3 = 3NaCl+3C4HsO, PO^. 



The carbon and hydrogen were estimated in the usual manner by 

 oxide of copper, the phosphorus as follows. A weighed portion of 

 the aether was introduced into a twelve ounce stoppered bottle; 

 concentrated nitric acid was poured upon it, and the bottle allowed 

 to stand in a warm place, loosely stopped, for several days. When 

 nitrous fumes no longer appeared, the oxidation of the phosphorous 



