A general method is described for the preparation of a new class of compounds, his- (disubstituted-phosphiny1)-methanes, RzP (O) CH? P (O) Rz. The method has been used for the preparation of bis-(dimethy1phosphin)-1)-methane, his-(di-n-hexylphosphiny1)- methane, bis-(di-2-ethylbutylphosphinyl)-methane and his-(diphenylphosphiny1)-methane. It is a comparatively simple synthesis which requires four steps from commercially ...