Abstract
1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadarnantane (PTA), a small air stable aliphatic phosphine, and some water soluble derivatives have been studied mainly using 31P nmr. PTA has been shown to have a pKa of 6.0 but this basicity does not relate to the phosphorus atom but one of the nitrogen atoms in the molecule. Alkyl halides similarly add to one of the nitrogens and conductivity and nmr studies indicate that these are ammonium salts. Oxidation and the reaction with sulphur and selenium occur at phosphorus, indicated by large 31P coordination chemical shifts. All the derivatives prepared are water soluble.