314 PROFESSOR LETTS ON PHOSPHORUS-BETAINES. 
ethyl-bromate is bromide of triethyl-methyl-phosphonium. The formation of 
this substance is explained by the equation— 
CH,— C00 C,H, uk 
(CH,)PC ee ae (CH) PC + CO,+C,H,, 
Br Br 
a decomposition very similar to that which the oxysalts of thetine suffer when 
heated. 
It must be observed, however, that the author did not detect any ethylene 
amongst the gaseous products of the reaction, but on the other hand only 
about one-third of them consisted of carbonic anhydride. 
Action of Heat on Ethyl-Chlorate of Triethyl-Phosphorus-Betaine. — The 
experiments on the action of heat on this 
body were made chiefly with the apparatus 
represented in the figure. Either the pure 
ethyl-chlorate or the product of action of 
chloracetic ether and triethyl-phosphine was 
carefully weighed, and placed in the flask 
A, which was then connected by the tube 
and indiarubber joint E, with the inverted 
burette B, previously completely filled with 
mercury by raising the reservoir C. The oil 
bath D was then heated by the Bunsen’s 
burner G. As the ethyl-chlorate decom- 
posed, the gaseous products passed into the 
burette. . Care was taken, by lowering the 
reservoir C, to keep the mercury both in it 
and in the burette at the same level. When 
no further evolution of gas occurred, A was 
cooled in water, and the volume of the gas 
which had been generated read off. The 
proportion of carbonic anhydride which it 
A—A small flask of about 15 cc. capacity. contained was determined as follows. A 
B—Inverted burette filled with mercury. ee 
C—Mercury reservoir connected by indiarubber small funnel was attached by an india- 
pare rubber joint to the tap of the burette, and 
E—Indiarubber junction. a quantity of strong potash solution poured 
= eee into it. The mercury reservoir was then 
lowered, and the tap of the burette turned on for a few moments until suffi- 
cient potash solution had run into it. The tap was then turned off and the 
gas well agitated with the potash solution, and after some time its volume 
read off. The residual gas could also be examined, 
sim S = 7 = 
