He(I) and He(II) photoelectron spectra of phenylphosphine and phenylarsine have been investigated and assigned. The rotational barrier of the phosphino group has been investigated at the MP2/6-31G(d,p)//MP2/6-3 IG(d,p) and HF/6-31G(d,p)//HF/6-3 IG(d,p) levels of theory, and that of the arsino group at the HF/6-3 IG(d,p)//6-31G(d,p) levels of theory. The rotational barrier of the two molecules is nearly the same. The energy difference between the two possible conformers of the molecules is low (1.5 kJ/mol at the MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory), allowing nearly free rotation about the P--C bond. The photoelectron spectrum cannot be interpreted by considering the most stable rotamer, but all possible conformers should be taken into account. The present interpretation is consistent with the small np-r interaction concluded from other investigations. The rotational barrier of o-phosphinophenol is significantly larger than for phenylphosphine, and the photoelectron spectrum of this compound can be interpreted by considering a single conformer, and no appreciable interaction between the r-system of the ring and the phosphorus lone pair.