Abstract The formation of the stable phosphonium ions from polyfluoroaromatic phosphines of C 6 F 5 PX 2 type [X= H, CH 3, C 6 H 5, C 6 F 5, Cl, F, NCS, CN, OCH 3, N (C 2 H 5) 2] in HSO 3 F SbF 5 (1: 1) at− 70 to− 1OC has been shown, as well as the transformation of the investigated phosphines in HSO 3 F at 20 C into the pentavalent phosphorus derivatives. The same processes take place also for the trivalent arsenic and antimony derivatives. ...