of Edinburgh, Session 1880 - 81 . 
47 
Our researches on the action of iodide of ethyl on phosphide of 
sodium are still proceeding, but those on the action of chloride of 
benzyl on the same body are sufficiently advanced to warrant us 
drawing attention to them. 
The preparation of phosphide of sodium is accomplished with- 
out difficulty or danger by melting sodium in xylol and adding 
phosphorus in small pieces. It depends, however, entirely on 
the manner in which the phosphide is made, and on the pro- 
portions of phosphorus, sodium, chloride of benzyl and xylol 
taken as to the quantity and nature of the resulting phosphine 
compounds. 
The chief product of the reaction is the chloride of tetra-benzyl- 
phosphonium, which is probably formed according to the equation 
4 CLELC1 + ]Sfa 3 P = 3 NaCl + (C 7 H 7 ) 4 PC1, 
but the quantity formed may in an ill conducted experiment 
be as low as 1 per cent, of the theoretical amount, whereas with 
proper proportions of the substances giving rise to it we have 
succeeded in obtaining over 40 per cent, with certainty. 
The proportions and exact method of procedure we propose to 
give in another paper, contenting ourselves for the present by saying 
that it is possible to prepare 60 grammes of almost pure chloride of 
tetra-benzyl-phosphonium in about five hours. We believe that this 
result could not be obtained by either of the ordinary methods for 
preparing phosphines. 
Hofmann* has investigated mono- and di-benzyl phosphine, but 
so far as we are aware tri-benzyl-phosphine and the salts of tetra- 
benzyl-phosphonium have not hitherto been obtained. 
Chloride of tetra-benzyl-phosphonium , (ChH 7 ) 4 PCl, is dissolved out 
of the product of the action of chloride of benzyl on phosphide of 
sodium by boiling water and crystallises when the filtered aqueous 
solution cools in magnificent needles which may attain the length of 
an inch and a half. 
By recrystallisation from boiling water it may be obtained 
colourless and pure. It contains water of crystallisation which it 
loses when heated. The dried compound melts at about 224°- 
* Hofmann, “ Ber. deut. Chem. Ges. iv. 
