[P9]+ [Al(OR(F))4)]-, the salt of a homopolyatomic phosphorus cation.

Positive at last: The first condensed-phase homopolyatomic phosphorus cation P(9) was prepared using a combination of the oxidant NO and weakly coordinating anion, Al{OC(CF(3))(3)}(4). P(9) consists of two P(5) cages linked by a phosphonium atom to give a D(2d)-symmetric Zintl cluster. NMR (see picture), Raman, and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and quantum-chemical calculations confirmed the structure.