A straightforward synthesis of unprecedented N-phosphanylformamidines (phosfam), 3a,b has been developed. The single-crystal X-ray study of 3a revealed an E-formamidine stereoisomer. The structural parameters show a strong localization of the C1-N1 double bond in the formamidine pattern. Versatile protonation reactions with HCl on 3a and 3b are reported, leading to P-N cleavage vs. prototropy. Experimental studies and DFT calculations have evidenced that the imino nitrogen atom is the basic center of phosfams 3a and 3b. DFT calculations show that the isomers and rotamers of the N-and P-protonated forms of 8a/9a and 8b/9b are en-
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