DE. A. W. HOFMANN ON THE PHOSPHOEHS-BASES. 
467 
ments by the action of bromine on bromide of ethyl. But, on the other hand, the allied 
members of these two pairs of bodies are so closely related to each other, that, under 
the influence of powerful reagents, they not unfrequently yield exactly the same pro- 
ducts of transformation. I may here refer especially to an interesting experiment of 
Beilsteix, who has shown that dichloride of ethylene and monochlorinated chloride of 
ethyl, when treated with alcoholic potassa, undergo the same decomposition : both these 
compounds give up hydrochloric acid, being converted into chloride of vinyl. 
The denomination, hr(metliyl4netliyl])lios])lionmm^ which I have adopted for the metal 
produced by the action of dibromide of ethylene on triethylphosphine, involves to a 
certain extent the assumption that this body might also, under favourable circumstances, 
be produced by the mutual action of triethylphosphine and monobrominated bromide 
of ethyl. In a subsequent chapter of this inquiry I shall have an opportunity of show- 
ing how far this assumption is established hy experiment. 
Salts of Vinyl-teiethylphosphonium. 
In tracing the history of the salts of bromethyl-triethylphosphonium, I have men- 
tioned that these substances lose their latent bromine, though slowly, when boiled with 
silver-salts. 1 was curious to ascertain whether this reaction involves the same metamor- 
phosis which the bromethyiated body undergoes under the influence of oxide of silver. 
In the anhydrous condition, the bromethyiated bromide acts but slowly on acetate 
of silver. In the presence of alcohol or water, the reaction is soon accomphshed at 
100° C. The liquid filtered from the bromide of silver yields no further precipitate on 
addition of ammonia, showing that the whole of the hromine is eliminated. When 
evaporated with hydrochloric acid, the liquid abundantly evolves acetic acid. After 
sufficient concentration, it yields with dichloride of platinum a fine octohedral salt, 
which may be purified by crystallization. 
I. 0-4222 gi’m. of platinum-salt gave 0-4203 grm. of carbonic acid and 0-2017 grm. of 
water. 
II. 0-4215 grm. of platinum-salt of a new preparation gave 0-4267 grm. of carbonic 
acid and 0-1990 grm. of water. 
III. 0-9430 grm. of platinum-salt, treated with hydrosulphuric acid, &c., gave 0-2660 
grm. of platinum. 
IV. 0-7115 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0-2015 grm. of platinum. 
V. 0-3625 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0-1020 grm. of platinum. 
VI. 0-6354 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0-1785 grm. of platinum. 
VII. 0-5585 gi’m. of platinum-salt gave 0-1590 grm. of platinum. 
VIII. 0-3675 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0-1025 grm. of platinum and 0-451 grm. of 
chloride of silver. 
The percentages derived from these experiments characterize the compound 
C, H,8 P Ft Cl, = [(C, Hj) (C^ Hj), P] Cl, Pt Cl„ 
