294 PROFESSOR LETTS ON PHOSPHORUS-BETAINES. 
derived from triethyl-amine. The aqueous solution when evaporated in vacuo 
solidifies into a radiated crystalline mass. I have been satisfied to fix the 
composition of this body by the analysis of the well crystallised platinum salt 
which was found to contain 
C,H,,P0,PtCl, = [, (CoH el: 2 ta) Cl, PtCl,. 
and by that of the iodide. The latter was formed by precipitating the platinum 
salt by sulphuretted hydrogen, decomposing the chloride formed in this manner 
by oxide of silver, and dissolving the triethylated compound in hydriodic acid. 
The solution was evaporated to dryness, the residue washed with absolute 
alcohol, and recrystallised from the same liquid. This iodide is more soluble 
and less beautiful than the corresponding compound in the nitrogen series. 
Analysis showed, however, that it has an analogous composition, viz., 
Cy¢H;;P,0,1 = [ (CoH)? PLC HPO, . 
“ The Betaine of the Phosphorus Series. * 
“Tn general the study of phosphorised organic compounds has been preceded 
by the knowledge of the corresponding members of the nitrogen series. There 
are, however, some cases known in which the phosphorised bodies have been 
investigated before the analogous nitrogen compounds. Among these are the 
compounds derived from glycocoll by replacement of hydrogen by alcohol 
radicals. 
“ During his great research on phosphorus bases, Professor HoFMANN also 
studied the action of monochloracetic acid on triethyl-phosphine, and obtained 
in this reaction the chloride of a base which possesses the composition, 
(C,H5)s (C,H;0.) P, Cl Ss 
“When he removed the chlorine from this body by oxide of silver, there was 
not produced as might have been expected the hydroxyl compound, 
(C,H;)3(C,H,0,)P(OH), 
but by the splitting off of hydrochloric acid, 
(C.H;);(C,H,0.)P =C,H,(C,H,;)3PO, , 
which may be regarded as triethylated glycocoll, the nitrogen of which is 
* Meyer, Ber. d. deutsch. chem. Ges. iv. 
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