510 
DE. A. W. HOr:VIANX ox THE PHOSPHOEUS-BASES. 
The analysis of the platinum-salt and of the gold-salt sufficiently fixes the composition 
of the series of diatomic phosphammonium-compoimds. I have prepared some of the 
simple salts of this nitrophosphoretted metal, especially the dichloiide, the dibromide, 
and the di-iodide. They all crystallize pretty well, although they are in general more 
soluble and less stable than the diphosphonium-salts. The diperchlorate is rather 
difficultly soluble, and crystallizes with facility. These salts have not been analysed. 
The free base likewise resembles the hydrate of the diphosphonium. Its solution is 
powerfully alkaline, and precipitates from most metallic salts the hydrates of the metals. 
The solution of the base may be concentrated on the water-bath vdthout losing am- 
monia ; addition of potassa to the residuary liquid separates the hydrate in oily drops, 
which redissolve when mixed with water. 
The peculiar construction of this body induced me to examine its deportment mider the 
influence of heat. The substitution being limited to 5 equivs. of hydi’ogen, the question 
arose whether the hydrate could be distilled in the form of a phosphamine of the 
formula 
{C,n,), PN. 
(C., H^) hJ 
Experiment showed, however, that the base cannot be volatilized ufithout entire 
decomposition ; the product of distillation no longer contains a trace of the original 
body. Ammonia is abundantly evolved during the distillation, and at a certain stage of 
the process the residue contains the hydrate of -vinylated triethylphosphonium. 
[(G,H,)"(C,H,)3H3PN] 
H. 
= H 3 N + H, O -f 
1 infer this from the analysis of an iodide obtained by neutralizing with hydiiodic acid 
the mixed base which had been heated for some time. This salt was exceedingly soluble 
in water, and even in absolute alcohol, and Avas precipitated from the latter by addition 
of ether. 
0-4865 grin, of iodide gave 0-416 grm. of iodide of silver. 
The formula 
GgHjgPI 
= [(C,H3)(C,H5)3l>]I 
requires the following values : — 
Theory. 
_ Vx 
Experiiueut. 
1 equiv. of Phosphonium 
. . '145 
53-31 
1 equiv. of Iodine . 
. . 127 
46-69 
46-4 
1 equiv. of Iodide . . 
. . 272 
100-00 
The mother-liquor ot this salt was freed from excess of siher and precipitated by 
trichloride of gold. The yellow needles were analysed. 
0-6580 grm. of gold-salt gave 0-2615 grm. =39-68 per cent, of gold. 
