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 Wurtz reaction of arsenic trichloride with chlorobenzene using sodium as the reducing agent:

Reactions

Reaction of triphenylarsine with lithium gives lithium diphenylarsenide and phenyllithium: Triphenylarsine is the precursor to tetraphenylarsonium chloride, [AsPh4]Cl, a popular precipitating agent. AsPh3 forms metal complexes with metals. Most are analogues of the corresponding triphenylphosphine derivatives. Examples include [IrCl(CO)(AsPh3)]2, [RhCl(AsPh3)3], and [Fe(CO)4(AsPh3)]. Tetraphenylarsonium chloride is prepared from triphenylarsine: