PROFESSOR LETTS ON PHOSPHORUS-BETAINES. 293 
in what respects do they resemble and differ from corresponding compounds of 
betaine and thetine ? 
Dr Crum Brown and the author had expressed the opinion that phosphorus- 
betaine would probably more closely resemble thetine than betaine ; and as the 
former had been only subjected to a cursory examination, the author determined 
to carefully examine it, and to study its properties. 
Before, however, proceeding to describe his experiments, it is necessary to 
state the results of HorMANN and MEYEr’s work on phosphorus-betaines. Hor- 
MANN was the first to surmise and to prove their existence, and so far as the 
author can ascertain, he and his pupil Meyer are the only chemists who have 
investigated them. 
“ Action of Chloracetic Ether on Tricthyl-Phosphine.* 
Be da, “ Triethyl-phosphine and chloracetic ether combine with evolution 
of heat, and formation of a brownish liquid of considerable consistency. If 
somewhat large quantities are to be mixed, it is desirable to moderate -the 
action by the presence of a volume of anhydrous ether equal to or greater than 
the aggregate bulk of the two liquids. Dissolved in water, separated by filtra- 
tion or distillation from the excess of chloracetic ether employed, and mixed 
with dichloride of platinum, the new chloride furnishes a beautifully crystal- 
lised platinum salt, which after several recrystallisations from boiling water 
has the composition, 
C,oHsaPO,,PtCl; =[ (CoH), CHO ca al CLPtcl. 
submitted to the action of oxide of silver, the chloride undergoes the same 
change which was observed in the corresponding nitrogen compound, 
[ (CoH) gag) P O44 ElO+E 'o= [Ca o3a \Jo+" eNO 
It is scarcely necessary to point out the perfect analogy of the new phos- 
phuretted compounds with the corresponding bodies in the nitrogen series. 
Whatever view be entertained of the latter must also be taken regarding the 
former. Conceived in the anhydrous condition, the product obtained by the 
action of oxide of silver upon the chloride may be considered as phosphuretted 
glycocoll, with three equivalents of ethyl in the place of three of hydrogen, 
C,H,;PO, = C,H,(C,H;),;PO 
“The phosphuretted compound resembles in its properties the substance 
* Hormann, Proceedings Royal Society, vol. xi. p. 530. 
VOL, XXX. PART I. 22 
