Phosphinidene

In chemistry phosphinidenes (IUPAC: phosphanylidenes, or in older chemistry phosphinediyls) are the phosphorus analogs of carbenes and nitrenes, having the general structure RP:. The name originated from the parent compound, phosphinidene (HP). They can exist in either a singlet state or triplet state, with the triplet state being lower in energy. This type of compound is very reactive and has only been observed in the gas phase and at cryogenic temperatures.