The matrix isolation technique has been combined with theoretical calculations to identify and characterize the photoproducts in the reaction of PH 3 with OVCl 3 and CrCl 2 O 2 . In contrast to previous studies, HCl elimination from an initial complex is not observed. Instead, a number of product bands, some quite intense, were observed and have been assigned to phosphine oxide, H 3 PO, through the direct O atom transfer from the transition metal oxo compound. This identification was supported by extensive isotopic labeling, and by comparison to theoretical calculations. H 3 PO formed in this manner is cage-paired and interacts with the transition metal fragment (VCl 3 or Cl 2 CrO), leading to a 113 cm -1 red-shift of the PdO stretching mode relative to isolated monomeric H 3 PO.