DE. A. W. HOFMANN ON THE PHOSPHOEHS-BASES. 
421 
of gold, a deep-yellow oil is separated, which crystallizes with difficulty after consider- 
able standing. This compound is exceedingly soluble in water and in alcohol. When 
the aqueous solution is heated, the gold is reduced ; the transformation which the oxide 
of triethylphosphine undergoes in this reaction has not been examined. 
Chlonde of Tin forms likemse an oily compound with the oxide : I have not succeeded 
in crystallizing this compound. 
Chlonde of Mercury is without any action on oxide of triethylphosphine. 
Oxychloride of Tyiethylphosphine. 
On passing a cm’rent of dry hydrochloric acid through a layer of oxide of triethyl- 
phosphine which is fused in a U-shaped tube surrounded by boiling water, brilliant 
crystals are soon formed. These crystals, however, rapidly disappear, the compound 
formed in the commencement of the reaction uniting with an excess of hydrochloric 
acid. The viscous hquid, which ultimately remains behind, loses, when heated, the 
excess of hydrochloric acid, leaving an exceedingly deliquescent crystalline mass, very 
soluble in alcohol, insoluble in ether. 
For analysis, the new compound was washed with absolute ether, and di’ied over 
sulphuric acid in vacuo, either at the common temperature or at 40°. Three chlorine- 
determinations in specimens of different preparations yielded the folloAving results : — 
I. 0-8845 grm. of substance gaA'e 0-6920 gi-m. of chloride of silver. 
II. 0-3548 grm. of substance gave 0-2918 grm. of chloride of silver. 
III. 0-3557 grm. of substance gaA-e 0-2979 grm. of chloride of silver. 
The chlorine-percentages corresponding to these numbers exhibit far greater discre- 
pancies than are generally obseiwed in experiments of this description ; this result is 
obriously due to the extremely deliquescent character of the crystals. It cannot, how- 
ever, be doubted that the compound examined is an oxychloride of triethylphosphine 
represented by the formula 
C ,2 H 3 , P, O Cl 3 =(C 3 H 3)3 P 0+(C3 H,), p c%. 
2 equivs. Triethylphosphine 
1 equiv. Oxygen .... 
2 equivs. Chlorine 
1 equiv. Double Compound 
Theory. 
A 
Experiment. 

r 
N 
r 
I. 
II. 
III.' 
236 
73-07 
16 
4-95 
71 
21-98 
19-35 
20-35 
20-7: 
323 
100-00 
The dichloride of triethylphosphine cannot be formed by the action of hydrochloric acid 
upon the oxide. 
The oxychloride exhibits with other compounds the deportment of the oxide. It 
furnishes with dichloride of platinum the same platinum-salt which is obtained with 
