Abstract: A series of phosphoranyl radicals R10 (RZO) P (OEt) 2 has been generated both by reaction of RIO-with R20-P (OEt) 2 and reaction of R20-with R10P (OEt) 2. The ratio of phosphates, R'OP (O)(OEt) z and R20P (0)(OEt) 2, formed on (I scission of a given intermediate phosphoranyl radical depends on the pathway of generation of R'O (RZO) P (OEt) 2. This" memory" effect is taken to rule out (1) tetrahedral geometry for the ...