Interaction of triphenylphosphine with Ni(XqO)2 (XqOH = 2-nitrosophenol, X = 4-chloro, 4-bromo, 4-methyl and 5-methoxy) resulted in deoxygenation to give mainly bis(2-triphenylphosphiniminophenolato) nickel(ll), Similarly the interaction of triphenyl phosphine with Zn(qO)2 (qOH = 5-methoxy-2- nitrosophenol) involved deoxygenation and formation of bis(2-triphenylphosphiniminophenolato)zinc(ll). Action of dilute hydrochloric acid on these complexes afforded the hydrochlorides of the corresponding N(2-hydroxybenzene)iminotriphenyl phosphoranes. The hydrochlorides on neutralisation with sodium carbonate gave, in most cases, the parent N(2-hydroxybenzene)- iminotriphenyl phosphorene.