492 
DE. A. W. H0IAIA2sX OX THE PHOSPHOEI'S-BASES. 
I. 0-3388 grm. of iodide, having a slightly yellowish tint, gave 0-4017 gim. of carbonic 
acid and 0-2077 grin, of water. 
II. 0-2470 grm. of iodide gave 0-2255 grm. of iodide of silver. 
The formula 
requires 
^14 ^34 ^2 ^2 — 
Theory. 
( 
Ci4 
168 
32-43 
H 34 
34 
6-57 
P 2 
62 
11-97 
lo 
254 
49-03 
518 
100-00 
Experiment. 
, A ^ 
e: 
32-34 
6-81 
This result was unequivocally confirmed by the analysis of the corresponding crystal- 
line platinum-salt. 
0-3550 grm. of the salt gave 0-3297 grm. of carbonic acid and 0-1650 gi-m. of water, 
representing- 25-33 per cent, of carbon and 5-16 per cent, of hydi-ogen. The theoretical 
percentages are 24-91 of carbon and 5-05 of hydrogen. 
The transition of a diphosphonium-compound from the crystalline to the amorphous, 
and from the amorphous to the crystalline condition, appears intelligible enough The 
transformation of the oxethylated monophosphonium, however, into a diphosphonium- 
compound, and the formation of the latter by the action of bromide of vinyl upon tri- 
ethylphosphine, claims our attention for a moment. 
The conversion of the hydrate of oxethyl-triethylphosphoniumf into the hydrated 
diphosphonium is readily understood, if we remember that two molecules of the former 
contain the elements of one molecule of the latter and of one molecule of ethylene- 
alcohol : 
o, + Chn,o,. 
-[(C, H, O) (C, H,), P]1 __ [(C, H,)" (a P.J' 
H i J - II, j 
I am unable to say Avhether the group C, Hq O, actually separates as ethylene-alcohol, 
or, which is more probable, in the form of Avater and oxide of ethylene, or even of alde- 
hyde. Material and patience began to fail AAhen I had reached this point, and I must 
reserve the decision of this question to later experiments J. 
* The dipliosplioniura-salt, which is formed by tlie action of sulphoc 3 'anate of eth^vleite upon trietln'l- 
phosphine (see page 36), likewise, in the first place, fields the amorphous platinum-salt when precipitated 
by dichloride of platinum. 
t I need scarcely mention that tlie purit}" of the compound used in mj- experiments had been established 
bj' a special analysis. AVheu pre])ared from imperfectlj' purified brometliylated bromide, the oxeth\'lated 
base is apt to contain minute quantities of the hydrate of the diphosphonium. 
X The convertibility of the oxethylated triethylphosphoniuin-salts into diatomic compounds has induced 
