296 PROFESSOR LETTS ON PHOSPHORUS-BETAINES. 
which Hormann has lately communicated, allows of the preparation of trimethyl- 
phosphine in any quantity and of perfect purity. The trimethyl-phosphine 
employed in the research which follows was prepared exclusively by the action 
of phosphonium iodide on methyl alcohol. 
“ Action of Monochloracetic Acid on Trimethyl-Phosphine. 
“If the two bodies are mixed in equimolecular quantities a reaction is 
noticed, even at ordinary temperatures. Ifthe mixture has been heated for five 
to six hours in a sealed tube at 100° C., a product is formed which consists of a 
deliquescent viscous syrup, throughout which crystals are interspersed. This 
mass always contains small quantities of hydrochlorate of trimethyl-phosphine 
but consists for the greater part of a compound in which one molecule of tri- 
methyl-phosphine and one molecule of chloracetic acid are united together. It 
was not difficult to demonstrate by means of experiment the composition fore- 
seen theoretically of this body. The directly-formed chloride, on account of its 
hygroscopic properties, and also, as already .observed, from its contamination 
with small quantities of hydrochlorate of trimethyl-phosphine, seemed to be but 
little suited for analysis. The simplest way for examining it was clearly the 
analysis of its platinum salt. 
“On dissolving the crude product in water, and adding to the solution a 
slightly diluted solution of chloride of platinum, the platinum salt is precipitated 
immediately as an orange-yellow crystalline mass. This is easily soluble with- 
out decomposition in boiling water, and separates on cooling from this solution 
in splendid crystals of rhombic form. The carbon and platinum determinations 
in this salt showed that it is composed according to the formula, 
C,,H,,P,0,Cl,PtCl, = 2[C,H,(CH,),PO,,HCI},PtCl, , 
“On treating the aqueous solution of the platinum salt with sulphuretted 
hydrogen the pure chloride is obtained. I concentrated the solution at first on 
the water bath, and then allowed it to stand for some time under the receiver 
of the air-pump: in this manner the chloride is obtained as a crystalline deli- 
quescent mass. On treating the solution with chloride of gold, a beautiful gold 
salt is obtained, which crystallises in long yellow needles, easily soluble in 
water. In order to obtain the free base corresponding with the salts just 
described, the chloride was converted into sulphate by means of sulphuric 
acid. This was treated with baryta, and the excess of baryta removed by 
means of a current of carbonic acid. The solution thus obtained gradually 
solidified im vacuo to a splendid radiating crystalline mass. The solution of 
the base does not affect vegetable colouring matters. If hydrochloric acid is 
added to it, the original chloride is reformed, which was identified by pre- 
paration and analysis of the platinum salt. 
