Phosphine and carbene azido-cations: [(L)N] and [(L)N].

The cationic N-species [(-HCF)PN] () featuring a perfluoro-arene phosphonium group serves as a N-source in stoichiometric reactions with several Lewis bases (L) allowing for the stepwise formation of [(L)N] and [(L)N] cations (L = phosphine, carbene) with liberation of (-HCF)P. X-Ray diffraction analysis and computational studies provide insight into the bonding in these remarkably stable azido-cations.