294 



compounds formed directly by the union of triethylphosphine with 

 tetrachloride of carbon. The chemical action of the water is proved, 

 moreover, by the disengagement of heat to which I have alluded, 

 and by the existence of a large quantity of free hydrochloric acid in 

 solution. 



I have not succeeded in obtaining the direct product of the action 

 of tetrachloride of carbon on triethylphosphine in a state fit for 

 analysis ; the extraordinary deliquescence of the product, and the im- 

 possibility of touching it with a solvent without decomposing it, have 

 frustrated my efforts. But here again, exactly as in the case of the 

 diphosphonium-compound, the study of the products of decomposi- 

 tion leaves no doubt about the nature of the reaction ; it shows that 

 the direct product of the action of tetrachloride of carbon on tri- 

 ethylphosphine is a mixture of two chlorides, viz. 



Tetrachloride of carbo-dodeca-ethyltetraphosphonium, 



P 4 C1 4 



(C 2 H 5 ) 3 P 

 (C 2 H 5 ) P 



ta,ap 



(C 2 H 5 ) 3 P 



and trichloride of chlorocarbo-nonethyltriphosphonium, 



r (C 2 H 5 ) 3 p-i'" 



C 19 H 45 P 3 C1 4 = I (C Cl)'" (C 2 H 5 ) 3 P C1 3 . 



L (C 2 Hs) 3 P-" 



The tetraphosphonium-compound, submitted to the action of water, 

 gives rise to the formation of the formylated triphosphonium-salt, 

 oxide of triethylphosphine and hydrochloric acid, 



/p TI \ p-i iv 



y^a"/a r \ r (C H ) P~| '" 



" iv ^r 2 Tr4p C1 4+w}= (CH)'"(C 2 H;) 3 P |ci 3 + (CoH 5 ) 3 PO4-HCl. 



( /pH 5 < 3 pJ (C 2 H 5 ) 3 PJ 



lv t JiftfeJr^ 



The chlorocarbonated triphosphonium-salt furnishes with water the 

 chloromethylated monophosphonium-compound, oxide of triethyl- 

 phosphine and hydrochloric acid, 



(C 2 H 5 ) 3 P1'" H-, 

 (CCiy(C 2 H 5 ) 3 PjCl 3 +2gjO=[(CH 2 Cl)(C 2 H g ) 3 P]Cl+2[(C 2 H 5 ) 3 PO] + 2HCl 



The experiments described in this Note, together with those which 

 I have communicated to the Royal Society on a former occasion, prove 

 that the number of molecules of triethylphosphine which, under 



