ACTION OF PHOSPHIDE OF SODIUM ON HALOID ETHERS. 203 
consisted of brilliant needles of considerable length and thickness, and were 
apparently quadratic prisms. They fused at 212° C., and appeared to volatilise 
at higher temperatures almost unchanged. They were analysed by combustion 
with chromate of lead and oxide of copper. 
0-468 gave 1:360 CO, =79:2 per cent. carbon. 
0-468 , 0:2895 H,O=6°8 -. hydrogen. 
Carbon, . : 4 . 492 
Hydrogen, : : sO 'S 
That they contained phosphorus was at once shown by the livid green 
colour which they imparted to the flame of a Bunsen’s burner when heated on 
a platinum wire. 
The numbers required for tribenzyl-phosphine do not agree with those 
obtained with this substance; but, on the other hand, those calculated for a 
phosphorised cacodyl are almost identical with them. 
ihus— 
Calculated for Calculated for 
Obtained. (C,H,),P,. (GH -)aP. 
Carbon, . , RVD Bow mn ‘ Boots « ; 82°9 
Hydrogen, ; oe Se : 656. ; 6°9 
As for the reasons we have given above, we almost expected to find the 
cacodyl in the residues, we assumed that we really had obtained such a body. 
But the experiments which we tried to confirm this supposition did not lead to 
the results which we anticipated. 
A phosphorised cacodyl, even of an aromatic radical, ought to possess a 
strong tendency to absorb oxygen, and therefore would, even if it did not take 
up oxygen from the air, at least act as a powerful reducing agent. But the 
body in question showed no reducing tendencies whatever. A solution of 
nitrate of silver was not altered when boiled with its solution, Chloride of 
platinum at once produced a crystalline precipitate, which was not changed 
by boiling. This want of reducing power we considered a stong argument 
against the supposition that the substance was a phosphorised cacodyl. More- 
over, we noticed that it showed an indifference towards those reagents which 
react energetically with cacodyl. It is true that we obtained a compound 
with bromine, and also one with sulphur; but the result of their analyses 
could not be reconciled with the supposition that they were derivatives of a 
phosphorised cacodyl. 
On looking over our notes, we were struck with the fact that, so far as 
carbon and hydrogen are concerned, both oxide of tribenzyl-phosphine and a 
