The bis(phosphanyl)ylides Ph3PC(PPh2)2, Ph3PC(PPhCl)2 (3) and Ph3PC(PCl2)2 have analogous molecular structures. Details reflect the different charge transfer from the ylide center to the phosphanyl substituents. Chlorination destroys the chirality of 3. Reduction leads to the diphosphane 8 and the 1,2,4,5-tetraphosphinane 9 which are also included in the structural comparison.