The title compounds (and, in part, their seleno analogs) result from the oxidation of an ylidylphosphine and also from the addition of ylides to a perthiophosphonic anhydride. They can be deprotonated and alkylated to give anions or cations, respectively. The reaction with phenacyl bromide opens a way to 1,3,2‐oxathiaphosphole sulfides. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 9:433–437, 1998