The complexed triphosphaallyl radical, cation, and anion family.

Radically complex: The photolytic reaction of [Cp*P{W(CO)(5)}(2)] (Cp* = C(5)Me(5)) with a diphosphene produces, via a radical intermediate, an air-stable complexed triphosphaallyl radical, in which the unpaired electron is evenly distributed over both terminal P atoms. Oxidation of the radical leads to a triphosphaallyl cation, which is only stable at low temperatures in solution, whereas the stable triphosphaallyl anion is formed by reduction (see picture, Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl).