Tetraphenylphosphonium chloride


Tetraphenylphosphonium chloride is the chemical compound with the formula 4PCl, abbreviated Ph4PCl or PPh4Cl. Tetraphenylphosphonium and especially tetraphenylarsonium salts were formerly of interest in gravimetric analysis of perchlorate and related oxyanions. This colourless salt is used to generate lipophilic salts from inorganic and organometallic anions. Thus, Ph4P+ is useful as a phase-transfer catalyst, again because it allows inorganic anions to dissolve in organic solvents.

Structure and basic properties

The cation is tetrahedral. PPh4Cl crystallises as the anhydrous salt, which is normal item of commerce, as well as a monohydrate and a dihydrate.
In X-ray crystallography, salts are of interest as they often crystallise easily. The rigidity of the phenyl groups facilitates packing and elevates the melting point relative to alkyl-based quaternary ammonium salts. Also, since these salts are soluble in organic media, a wide range of solvents can be employed for their crystallisation.

constituent ions in the solid
space-filling model of part
of the crystal structure
ball-and-stick model of part
of the crystal structure

Preparation

PPh4Cl and many analogous compounds can be prepared by the reaction of chlorobenzene with triphenylphosphine catalysed by nickel salts:
The compound was originally prepared as the corresponding bromide salt, which in turn was synthesized by passing dry oxygen through the reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide and triphenylphosphine. The synthesis probably proceeds via the reaction of the Grignard reagent with triphenylphosphine oxide.