of Edinburgh, Sean ion 1880-81. 
45 
heated, fuses, effervesces, aiul suddenly solidifies, giving a pure white 
product. The gas evolved consists of pure carbonic anhydride. The 
decomposition occurs quantitatively according to the equation 
(C 2 H 5 ) 3 =P 
-ch 2 
—Cl 
COOH 
(C 2 H 5 )-P 
— CH 
—Cl 
3 + CO, 
The composition of the phosphonium salt was verified by the 
characteristic crystalline form, and by the analysis of its chloro- 
platinate. 
Action of Heat on Sulphate of Triethyl- phosphorus i-betaine . — 
The sulphate behaves, when heated, in the same manner as the 
hydrochlorate, the products of its decomposition consisting of 
carbonic anhydride and sulphate of triethyl-methyl-phosphonium. 
Action of Heat on the Base 'Triethyl-phosphorus-betaine . — The 
decomposition which the base suffers when heated is very in- 
teresting. 
When preparing the base it was noticed that, if its aqueous 
solution be concentrated by boiling, a faint odour of triethyl- 
phosphine is developed, and that when the concentrated solution is 
placed in vacuo it effervesces and eventually solidifies. 
It now, when treated with acids (even tartaric acid), effervesces, 
and has a faint acid reaction. In fact, it behaves as a bicarbonate , 
and there can be little doubt that the base when heated, suffers an 
isomeric change — bicarbonate of triethyl-methyl-phosphonium 
resulting — 
(C 2 H 5 ) 3 = 
CH„— COOH 
-OH 
(C.,H 5 ) 3 =P 
— ch 3 
— 0— COOH 
The production of the phosphonium salt was proved by the 
analysis of the chloroplatinate, as well as by the characteristic 
crystalline form of the latter. 
The experiments just described show that a close and interesting 
analogy exists between the compounds of phosphorus-betaine and of 
thetine. 
This is the more interesting, as the same analogies do not exist 
between these two classes of compounds, and the corresponding 
nitrogen compound (betaine), the salts of the latter when heated 
VOL. XL 
