Triphenylarsine

Triphenylarsine is the chemical compound with the formula As(C6H5)3. This organoarsenic compound, often abbreviated AsPh3, is a colorless crystalline solid that is used as a ligand and a reagent in coordination chemistry and organic synthesis. The molecule is pyramidal with As-C distances of 1.942-1.956 Å and C-As-C angles of 99.6-100.5°.

This compound is prepared by the reaction of arsenic trichloride with chlorobenzene using sodium as the reducing agent:
 * AsCl3 +  3 PhCl  +  6 Na  &rarr;  AsPh3  +  6 NaCl

Uses
AsPh3 is the precursor to tetraphenylarsonium chloride, [AsPh4]Cl, a popular precipitating agent.

AsPh3 forms complexes with low valent metals that are analogous to the corresponding triphenylphosphine derivatives, such as IrCl(CO)(AsPh3)2 and RhCl(AsPh3)3.