Alkytris(2-pyridyl)phosphonium salts [(2-Py)were synthesised from (2-Py) 3 P and an excess of RCl. 1c and 1e were found to rapidly decompose in hot acetone to 2,2 -bipyridinium(+1) bromide 2 and (2-Py)P(O)(CH 2 Ph)C(OH)Me 2 3, respectively. A reaction mechanism for both products is proposed. All compounds were fully characterized, including X-ray crystallography for 1a and 3 with 1a being the first representative of this class of compounds characterized by this technique.