DE. A. W. HOFMANN ON THE PHOSPHOEUS-BASES. 
447 
Oxide of trimethylphosphine produces with iodide of zinc, with dichloride of plati- 
num, and with trichloride of gold, the homologues of the several compounds obtained 
from oxide of triethylphosphine. 
Wdien trimethylphosphine, either pure or dissolved in alcohol and ether, is submitted 
to the action of disulphide of carbon, all the phenomena are reproduced which I have 
mentioned at some length in describing the corresponding ethyl-base. The red crystals 
which are formed are somewhat paler, much more volatile, and much more readily 
altered. The disulphide-of-carb on-compounds of the methyl- and ethyl-series exhibit 
in their properties the same relation which obtains between the sulphides of the two 
series. 
0*2586 grm. of the disulphide-of-carbon-compound gave 0*3030 grm. of carbonic acid 
and 0*1415 grm. of water. 
The formula 
C,H,PS2 = (CH3)3P, CS^ 
requires the following values : — 
Theory. 
Experiment. 
C4 
48 
31*58 
31*95 
9 
5*92 
6*08 
P 
31 
20*39 
s., 
64 
42*11 
152 
100*00 
The red crystals are changed with the utmost facility into sulphide of trimethyl- 
phosphine. In the hope of forming fine crystals, similar to those obtained with the 
ethyl-compound, a solution of the red crystals in warm ether was allowed to cool in a 
tall open cylinder. When the solution Avas examined next morning it had become 
colourless, leaving, upon spontaneous evaporation, the beautiful crystals of the sulphur- 
compound. 
The sulphocyanates of phenyl and allyl readily combine with trimethylphosphine. 
The reaction is even more powerful than with the ethyl-base. The urea-body which 
trimethylphosphine produces with sulphocyanate of phenyl is a liquid which I have not 
been able to obtain in the solid state. Directly prepared from the constituents, or sepa- 
rated from one of its crystalline salts, it forms a slightly coloured oily liquid, soluble in 
water, difiicultly soluble in ether, readily soluble in alcohol. On adding concentrated 
hydrochloric acid to the oil, it gradually solidifies to a crystalline mass of sulphur-yellow 
delicate, hair-like needles, which may be recrystallized both from Avater and from alcohol. 
I have fixed the composition of this phosphoretted urea by a chlorine-determination in 
the chloride. 
0*2718 grm. gaA’e 0*1540 grm. chloride of silver. 
The formula 
C10H15NPSCI 
r (cs)" ] ■ 
h(ch3)2 Inp 
I (ch3)(c,hoJ . 
Cl 
L 
