The oxidation of bis[bis(dialkylamino)phosphinyl]methane 1 with 5,5,5-trifluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)penta-3-en-2-one 2 unexpectedly gave zwitterionic compound 7 which according to X-ray analysis contains two phosphorus atoms of opposite charge and different coordination number (lambda 4P(+); lambda 6P(-)) with a direct P-H bond at the hexacordinated phosphorus.