Dimethylphosphine is the organophosphorus compound with the formula, often written . It is a malodorous gas that condenses to a colorless liquid just below room temperature. Although it can be produced by methylation of phosphine, a more practical synthesis involves the reduction of tetramethyldiphosphine disulfide with tributylphosphine:[1]
The compound exhibits the properties characteristic of a secondary phosphine, i.e., a compound of the type . It can be oxidized to the phosphinic acid:
It can be protonated to give the dimethylphosphonium ion:
With strong bases (e.g., lithium amide, it can be deprotonated to give dimethyl phosphide derivatives (e.g., lithium dimethyl phosphide):