According to molecular orbital theory, the short P–O bond is attributed to the donation of the lone pair electrons from oxygen p-orbitals to the antibonding phosphorus-carbon bonds. The nature of the P–O bond was once hotly debated.
According to molecular orbital theory, the short P–O bond is due to the donation of oxygen p-orbitals' lone pairs to antibonding phosphorus-carbon bonds. The nature of the P–O bond was once vigorously debated.