628 PROF. LETTS AND MR R. F. BLAKE ON BENZYL PHOSPHINES. 



potash or soda, it fuses and floats on the surface of the melted alkali. No violent action 

 occurs, but on cooling the mixture and treating it with water, the greater portion dissolves, 

 and acids then precipitate dibenzyl phosphinic acid. The folio wiug reaction therefore 

 occurs : — 



(C 7 H 7 ) 3 PO + KHO = (C 7 H 7 ) 2 P0 2 K + C 7 H 8 . 



Singularly enough, when dibenzyl-phosphinic acid is heated by itself, the oxide is 



formed — 



2(C 7 H 7 ) 2 P0 2 H = (C 7 H 7 ) 3 PO + HP0 3 + C 7 H 8 . 



