DE. A. ^Y. HOrMAJN^N OX THE PHOSPHOEUS-BASES. 
507 
Theory. 
A 
Experiment. 
A 
equiv. of Diphosphonium . 
< 
180-0 
30-49 
< > 
I. IL 
equivs. of Platinum . . . 
197-4 
33-43 
33-40 33-16 
equivs. of Chlorine . . . 
213-0 
36-08 
equiv. of Platinum-salt . . 
690-4 
100-00 
SEEIES OF MIXED DIATOMIC BASES. 
The investigation of the intimate relation which unites the bromethylated mono- 
phosphonium with the ethylene-diphosphonium-compounds, together with the establish- 
ment of the easy transition from the monatomic to the diatomic series, naturally 
suggested the idea of subjecting the bromethylated bromide, which forms the starting- 
point of the whole investigation, to the action of monamines, monarsines, and mono- 
stihines, in the expectation that diatomic bases would be formed containing nitrogen, 
arsenic, and antimony, side by side with phosphorus, and equivalent to it in chemical 
value and character. How far this expectation has been realized may be seen from the 
following experiments. 
PHOSPHAMMOXIUM-COMPOUNDS. 
Action of Ammonia on Beomide of Beomethyl-teiethylphosphonium. 
In alcoholic solution, these two bodies act upon one another at ordinary temperatures, 
the reaction being indicated by considerable evolution of heat. To ensure complete 
transformation, the mixture is digested at 100° for half an hour in sealed tubes. On 
evaporating the alcohol and the excess of ammonia, there remains an extremely deliques- 
cent saline mass, which crystallizes with difficulty. To remove small quantities of 
ammonia which may be present in the form of bromide of ammonium, the solution of 
the saline residue is treated with excess of oxide of silver, whereby a strongly alkaline 
liquid is set free, which may be digested on the water-bath without decomposition, so 
that traces of ammonia are easily driven off. Further investigation showed the presence 
in the caustic alkaline liquid of a base containing both phosphorus and nitrogen, viz. 
the hydrate of ethylene-triethylphosphammonium. 
The reaction between the bromethylated monophosphonium and ammonia had there- 
fore taken place exactly as might have been expected from the behaviour of the former 
compound with the monophosphines: 
[(C,H,Br)(C,H,),PjBr + H3N = 
,(C,H3)3P- 
H,N 
Br., 
I have fixed the composition of the nitrophosphoretted base by the analysis of the 
platinum-salt and of the gold-salt. 
Platinum-salt . — On saturating the alkaline hydrate with hydrochloric acid and adding 
3x2 
