462 
DE. A. W. HOFJJAJN^X OX THE PHOSPHOErS-BASES. 
Salts of Oxethyl-teiethtlphosphoxioi. 
Iodide . — When the caustic liquid produced by treating the bromide of bromethyl- 
triethylphosphonium with oxide of silver is neutralized with hydriodic acid and the 
solution evaporated, an iodide is obtained w'hich crystallizes in needles, and dissolves veiy 
readily in water and alcohol. The finest crystals are obtained by mixing the alcoholic 
solution with ether till it becomes opalescent, and then allowing it to cii’stallize. If too 
much ether has been added, the new iodide is precipitated as an oil, which solidifies hut 
slowly to a crystalline mass. The salt becomes coloured at 100°, and must therefore be 
dried in vacuo. 
I. 0‘3003 grm. of iodide gave 0'3615 grm. of carbonic acid and 0T890 grm. of water. 
II. 0'4665 grm. of iodide gave 0‘5760 gian. of carbonic acid and 0‘2832 gnn. of water. 
III. 0‘3705 grm. of iodide gave 0'2990 grm. of iodide of silver. 
IV. 0-2970 grm. of iodide gave 0-2427 grm. of iodide of silver. 
V. 0-4080 grm. of iodide gave 0-3344 grm. of iodide of silver. 
These numbers lead to the formula 
Cg H^o O P I = [(C2 H, O) (C2 U,), P] I, 
which requires the following values : — 
Theory. 
Experiment. 
yv 
r 
> 
I. 
II. 
III. 
Cs 
96 
33-10 
32-84 
33-67 
H 20 
20 
6-90 
6-99 
6-74 
0 
16 
5-51 
— 
p 
31 
10-69 
I 
127 
43-80 
— 
43-62 
100-00 
A*. 
44-28 
The transformation of the bromethylated phosphonium takes place, therefore, exactly 
as might be expected from analogy, the bromine being eliminated as bromide of silver, 
and its place being taken by the molecular residue of the water : — 
[(C^ H 4 Br) (C, H ,)3 P] Br + Ag, O + H, O = 2 Ag Br + O. 
Hydrate.— The caustic solution of the oxide exhibits the usual characteristic properties 
of this class of bodies. Over sulphuric acid, the solution thickens to a syrupy, extremely 
deliquescent mass, from which the base separates in oily drops on addition of potassa. 
Its decomposition by heat is characteristic ; at a rather high temperatm-e, it is resolved 
into oxide of triethylphosphine, ethylene, and water : — 
[(C2 H5 o) (C2 H5)3 jo = (C2 H5)3 p o + a h, + h, o. 
The oxide of triethylphosphine was identified by the preparation of its platinum-salt ; 
the ethylene, by converting it into the bromide. 
