Methylphosphine is the simplest
organophosphorus compound with the formula CH
3PH
2, often written MePH
2. It is a malodorous gas that condenses to a colorless liquid. It can be produced by methylation of
phosphide
In chemistry, a phosphide is a compound containing the ion or its equivalent. Many different phosphides are known, with widely differing structures. Most commonly encountered on the binary phosphides, i.e. those materials consisting only of phos ...
salts:
[W. L. Jolly “Methylphosphine” Inorganic Syntheses 1968, volume 11, p. 124. ]
:KPH
2 + MeI → MePH
2 + KI
Reactions
The compound exhibits the properties characteristic of a primary
phosphine
Phosphine (IUPAC name: phosphane) is a colorless, flammable, highly toxic compound with the chemical formula , classed as a pnictogen hydride. Pure phosphine is odorless, but technical grade samples have a highly unpleasant odor like rotting ...
, i.e., a compound of the type RPH
2. It can be oxidized to
methylphosphonous acid:
:MePH
2 + O
2 → MeP(H)O
2H
It protonates to give the
phosphonium
In polyatomic cations with the chemical formula (where R is a hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, or halide group). These cations have tetrahedral structures. The salts are generally colorless or take the color of the anions.
Types of phosphonium ...
ion:
:MePH
2 + H
+ → MePH
3+
With strong bases, it can be deprotonated to give methyl
phosphide
In chemistry, a phosphide is a compound containing the ion or its equivalent. Many different phosphides are known, with widely differing structures. Most commonly encountered on the binary phosphides, i.e. those materials consisting only of phos ...
derivatives:
:MePH
2 + KOH → K
ePH + H
2O
References
{{Reflist
Phosphines
Foul-smelling chemicals