The reaction of the inversely polarized phosphaalkenes RP=C(NMe 2 ) 2 [R = tBu (1a), Cy (1b), 1-Ad (1c), Ph (1d), Mes (1e)] with an excess of diphenyl ketene in n-pentane affords the zwitterionic adduct (Me 2 N) 2 C-C(O)=CPh 2 (2) and the 3,5-dibenzhydrylidene-1,4,2-dioxaphospholanes 4a-e. The reaction of 1a with Ph 2 C=C=O in concentrated acetonitrile solution gives 4a and 5-benzhydrylidene-2-tert-butyl-4,4-diphenyl-1,2-oxaphospholan-3-one (6a) as a by-product. In contrast, treatment of Me 3 SiP=C(NMe 2 ) 2 (1i) with the ketene leads to the formation of 2-phospha-1,3-butadiene (5). The thermolabile phosphaalkene 8 decomposes into an imid-