74 Proceedings of Boyal Society of Edinburgh. [dec. 19 , 
of the oxide of inonobenz 5 d phosphine PH 2 (C^H^) 0 — in which 
both atoms of hydrogen are replaced by the metal. 
The composition of the oxide was also established to a certain ex- 
tent by the increase in weight which a sample of the pure phosphine 
experienced on spontaneous oxidation, — a rough experiment giving 
an increase of 14T% instead of 12 ‘9%, the calculated amount. 
The authors regret that the small quantity of phosphine at their 
disposal prevented them from making further or more exact experi- 
ments. No oxide of a primary phosphine containing a single atom 
of oxygen has as yet been obtained (excluding the substance under 
discussion). 
Action of Bromine on Oxide of Monobenzyl Phosphine . — When 
bromine is added to the syrupy oxide, it is rapidly decolorised, 
and the mixture grows hot, whilst hydrobromic acid is evolved, 
and the pungent odour of bromide of benzyl is noticed. If suffi- 
cient bromine has been added, a crop of crystals forms after some 
time, which dissolve both in water and ether, and may be obtained 
colourless by recrystallisation. These crystals, on analysis, gave 
the following results: — 
0-221 gave 0*166 AqBr” = 0*07065 Br = 31*9 % 
0*384 
Bromine, . 
Carbon, 
Hydrogen, 
The formula calculated from the analytical results is, as will be 
noticed, somewhat complex, and at a first glance may appear to be 
improbable. The following equations show, however, that such a 
body could conceivably be formed from the phosphine oxide — 
0*6245 CO 2 =0*18735 C = 48*9% 
0*1535 H 2 O =0*01705 H = 4*9 % 
Calculated for 
Obtained. 
(C 7 H 7 ) 3 P 2 Br 2 H 30 
31*9 
31*1 
48*9 
49*0 
4*9 
4*7 
So>r 
'^P— 0— 
H 
(2) (C^H.K 
H ^P+3Br2-f3H20-C7H7Br-f5HBr+H3P04 
H C 7 H 7 
( 3 ) (C 7 H 7 ^p_o_p^C7H7_^ _ C^H^^P— 0-P 
Br Br 
