Abstract:
The invention relates to secondary and tertiary phosphines of the formula ##STR1## in which R is hydrogen, an aryl or benzyl group or a straight-chain or branched alkyl group, n is 1 or 2 and M is potassium or sodium.These phosphines are prepared by reacting either alkali metal salts of fluorobenzene-2,4-disulfonic acid with phosphine or with primary or secondary phosphines, or secondary phosphines of the type HP�C.sub.6 H.sub.3 -2,4-(SO.sub.3 M).sub.2 !.sub.2 with a compound RX in which R is an alkyl, aryl or benzyl group and X is a halogen, in an aprotic solvent in the presence of at least stoichiometric quantities of a solid, powdered alkali metal hydroxide at temperatures of from 0 to 100.degree. C.