30 Dr. N. Collie on the Action of Heat on 



tilled, the whole passed over between 250°-255° C, and an 

 analysis proved it to consist of diethylbenzvlphosphine. 

 0-232 grins, gave 0'627 C0 2 and 0*192 *H 2 0. 



Calculated for t-, -, 



(C 7 H 7 )(C 2 H 5 ) 2 P. Found - 



C 73-33 73-70 



H 9-44 9-19 



These results show that, when the chloride of triethyl- 

 benzylphosphonium is heated, it decomposes in the following 

 way :— 





C 2 BL 



H 



(0 7 H 7 ) (C 3 H 5 ) 2 P<T '■■- : = (C 7 H 7 ) (C 3 H 6 ) 3 PHC1 + C 3 H 4 . 



\C1 



And the decomposition is nearly quantitative ; for fourteen 

 grams of salt should give, according to the above equation, 

 about 1300 cubic centim. of ethylene gas, and the amount 

 found was 1200 cubic centim. 



Bromide of Triethylbenzylphosphonium. 



By saturating a solution of the hydrate with hydrobromic 

 acid a neutral solution was obtained. This was evaporated to 

 a small bulk and allowed to stand over sulphuric acid. Long 

 needle-shaped crystals were deposited, which were not per- 

 ceptibly deliquescent. 



0-400 grm. dry salt took 13-75 cubic centim. decinormal 

 nitrate-of-silver solution =27*50 per cent. Br. 



Calculated for -^ , 



(C T H 7 )(C 2 H 5 ) 3 PBr. - bound - 



Br 27-68 27'50 



Eight grams of the salt were heated ; no decomposition 

 began till the temperature had risen to above 360° C, when 

 gas was evolved, and the salt rapidly turned brown ; so much 

 charring eventually took place that the flask containing the 

 salt became almost full of charcoal. The small quantity of 

 distillate was strongly acid from free hydrobromic acid, and 

 contained toluene, and the hydrobromates of triethylphosphine 

 and diethylbenzvlphosphine. The gas produced consisted 

 chiefly of ethylene ; but there was present also some inflam- 

 mable hydrocarbon not absorbable by bromine. Evidently 

 only a small amount of the salt decomposes in a manner 

 * similar to the chloride, the larger quantity being totally 

 decomposed. 



