498 
DE. A. ^Y. HOFMAXX OX THE PHOSPHOEUS-BASES. 
matter in what proportions the two bodies may be mixed, or whether they act upon one 
another in absence or in presence of alcohol or ether. To obtain the monatomic 
compound, a mixture of triethylphosphine with a very large excess of chloride of 
ethylene must be left to itself for some days. The white crysta llin e needles, which 
the liquid deposits, are mixed even then with a considerable quantity of the diphospho- 
nium-compound ; but on treating their solution with dichloride of platinum, and leaving 
the pale-yellow precipitate, which exhibits an unmistakeable diphosphonic character, at 
rest for some hours, it becomes traversed by a number of deep orange-yellow ciystal- 
line stars, which may easily be separated fi’om the yellow powder by mechanical rinsing. 
By boiling the yellow powder with water, an additional quantity of this orange-yellow 
salt is obtained, which may be purified, together with the first portion, by reciystalliza- 
tion. This salt resembles in most respects the platinum-salt of bromethylated triethyl- 
phosphonium; it is, however, somewhat more soluble, and exhibits a more decided 
tendency to assume the octohedral character. As the properties of this body plainly 
show that it is the platinum-salt of chlorethylated triethylphosphonium, 
Cg Hjg P Pt CI 4 = [(C 2 H 4 C1)(C2 H 3)3 P] a, Pt CL,, 
I have contented myself with determining the amount of platinum contained in it. 
0'3470grm. of platinum-salt, decomposed with hydrosulphiuic acid, &c., gave 0'0S9 
grm. of platinum. 
Theory. 

Experiment. 
1 equiv. of Phosphonium 
, . . 181-5 
46-94 
* 
1 equiv. of Platinum . . , 
. . 98-7 
25-52 
25-64 
3 equivs. of Chlorine . . 
. . . 106-5 
27-54 
1 equiv. of Platinum-salt 
. . . 386-7 
100-00 
The chloride prepared from the needle-shaped platinum-salt by sulphuretted hydrogen 
yielded, when treated with oxide of silver, a caustic liquid, which, after addition of 
hydrochloric acid and dichloride of platinum, deposited the well-known octohedra of the 
oxethylated phosphonium-salt : 
[(C2H3 0XC2H3)3P]Cl,PtCl2. 
No doubt could exist respecting the nature of the sparingly soluble diphosphonium- 
platinum-salt. It was nevertheless recrystallized from boiling hydrochloric acid and iden- 
tified by analysis. 
I. 0-5005 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0-4617 grm. of carbonic acid and 0-2139 grui. of 
water. 
II. 0-5240 grm. of platinum-salt, precipitated with sulphuretted hydrogen. See., giwe 
0-1525 grm. of platinum. 
The formula 
Cl4H34P2Pt2Cl,= 
(C2H3)3P1 
(C2H3)3PJ 
CI 2 , 2 PtCl2 
