Parent compound[edit]
The parent compound phosphine oxide (H3PO) is unstable. It has been detected with mass spectrometry as a reaction product of oxygen and phosphine,[6] by means of FT-IRin a phosphine-ozone reaction [7] and in matrix isolation with a reaction of phosphine, vanadium oxytrichloride and chromyl chloride.[8] It has also been reported relatively stable in a water-ethanol solution by electrochemical oxidation of white phosphorus, where it slowly disproportionates into phosphine and hypophosphorous acid.[9] Phosphine oxide istautomeric with phosphinous acid (H2POH).