hours, respectively. Metal phosphides are also produced by reaction of tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine with metal halides. In this method, the halide is liberated as the volatile trimethylsilyl chloride. A method for the preparation of from red phosphorus and potassium ethoxide has been reported. Molecular phosphides Compounds with triple bonds between a metal and phosphorus are rare. The main examples have the formula , where R is a bulky organic substituent. Organic phosphides Many organophosphides are known. Common examples have the formula where R is an organic substituent and M is a metal. One example is lithium diphenylphosphide. The Zintl cluster is obtained with diverse alkali metal derivatives. Natural examples The mineral schreibersite is common in some meteorites. References Anions Phosphorus(−III) compounds