394 Royal Society : — 



the more energetic phosphide of sodium. After many unsuccessful 

 experiments, however, we were compelled to abandon this plan, 

 which is quite uncertain, unproductive, and highly dangerous. . 



The question then resolved itself into the discovery of a method 

 which would yield us the desired substances conveniently, without 

 danger, in considerable quantity, and in a state of absolute purity. 



It appeared that the action of terchloride of phosphorus on 

 zinc-methyle, zinc-ethyle, &c., the remarkable substances discovered 

 by Dr. Frankland some years ago, would enable us to attain the con- 

 templated result. Experiment has fully confirmed this anticipation. 

 The bases Mcy P and E3 P, the products of this reaction, which 

 we propose to call respectively trimethjlphosphine and triethyl- 

 phosjMne, remain united with chloride of zinc, and a simple di- 

 lution with an alkali is all that is necessary to liberate them. 

 3ZnCl, Me,P+6KO=3KCl + 3KO, ZnO + MegP 

 3ZnCl, E3"P-hfiKO=3KCl + 3KO, ZnO + E,P 

 They are obtained in this way as volatile oils, of a peculiar and 

 strongly marked odour, and possessing distinctly basic properties. 



We limit ourselves in this abstract to giving a synoptical table 

 of the several compounds which have been the subject of our re- 

 searches, the preparation and properties of which, together with the 

 analytical details, are fidly given in the complete paper which accom- 

 panies this note. 



Methyle-series. 



Trimethylphosphine Mcg P 



Platinochloride of trimethylphosphine . Mcg P, HCl, PtClg 



Binoxide of trimethylphosphine Me3 P O, 



Bisulphide of ditto Mcg P Sg' 



Biselenide of ditto Me.^ PSe^ 



Iodide of phosphomethylium Me^ P I 



Platinochloride of ditto Me^ P CI, PtCl, 



Aurochloride of ditto Me^ P CI, AUCI3 



Iodide of phosph'ethyltrimethylium , . (Mcg E) P I 

 Platinochloride of ditto .. (MegE) P CI, PtClg 



Iodide of phosph'amyltrimethylium . . (Meg Ayl) P I 

 Platinochloride of ditto . . (Mca Ayl) P CI, PClg 



Ethyle-series. 



Triethylphosphine E3 P 



Platinochloride of triethylphosphine. . E3 P, HCl, PtCla 



Binoxide of ditto . . E3 P Og 



Bisulphide of triethylphosphine .... E3 PSg 



Biselenide of ditto E3 P Seg 



Iodide of phosphethylium E^ P I 



Platinochloride of ditto E^ P CI, PtClg 



Aurochloride of ditto E^PCl, AuClg 



Iodide of phosphomethyl-triethyliurn . (MeEg) P I 



Platinochloride of ditto . . (MeEs) PCI, ViCV^ 



Iodide of phosph'amyltriethylium. . . . (Ayl Eg) P I 



Platinocliloride of ditto (Ayl Eg) PCI, ViQ\^ 



On glancing at the phosphorus-compounds noticed in the pre- 



