Trimethylphosphine oxide is an organophosphorus compound with the chemical formula . It forms highly hygroscopic, white, needle-shaped crystals. It forms a dihydrate .
Synthesis Trimethylphosphine oxide can be obtained by reaction between phosphoryl chloride and the Grignard reagent methylmagnesium chloride.
Trimethylphosphine is easily oxidized by oxygen to trimethylphosphine oxide.
Structure Trimethylphosphine oxide molecule is tetrahedral at the phosphorus atom. It is a resonance between these two structures:
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The distances between atoms are as follows: C-H 110 pm P-C 181 pm P-O 148 pm The angles between atoms are as follows: ∠C-P-O 112.3° ∠C-P-C 106.0° ∠P-C-H 109°
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