The novel coordination properties of the nonchelating bifunctional phosphorus ligand P(OCH2)3P have allowed the characterization of (OC)6MP(OCH2)3P and (0C)5MP(0CH2)3PM(C0)5 (M = Cr, Mo, and W); axial (OC)4FeP(OCH2)3P, axial (0C)4FeP(CH20)3P, and diaxial (OC)4FeP(OCH2)3PFe(CO)4; [CH3P(OCH2)3P]BF4 and [P(OCH2)3PCH3]BF4; and [(OC)5WP(OCH2)aPCH3]BF4. The mode of coordination of the ligand in the monometallic and phosphonium compounds was determined from the characteristic changes in the P81 chemical shifts and the PH and PP coupling constants. These methods were also used to characterize the unusual nonaxial (OC)4FeP(OCH2)3P (see ref 18). The magnitudes and signs of the VPH, Vph, and 37PP coupling constants in all of the compounds were obtained from the proton nmr spectra using indor techniques where appropriate. The trends in these parameters as the electron-withdrawing power of the fourth group attached to phosphorus increases in the order, electron pair < metal carbonyl fragment < methyl group < chalcogen, are interpreted in terms of the expected changes in nuclear charge of the atoms and s character of the bonds in the ligand. Infrared studies indicate that quaternization of the ligand in [(OC5)WP(OCH2)3P] to form [(OC)sP(OCH2)3PCH3]BF4 does not detectably alter the overall nature of the tungsten-phosphorus bond.