Is triphenylphosphine oxide able to form hydrogen bonds? If yes, is it an acceptor or donator?

Question

Is triphenylphosphine oxide able to form hydrogen bonds? If yes, is it an acceptor or donator?

Answer 1

The oxygen of triphenylphosphine oxide is relatively basic. One common way of drawing the compound is as follows...

Ph3P->O

...which symbolizes the fact that the oxygen is very electron rich and similar in nature to an alcoxide (O-). So the answer to your question is yes, it can form hydrogen bonds. Since it doesn't have any protons, it cannot be a donor - therefore it is an acceptor...

It's ability to form hydrogen bonds is one reason why it is partially soluble in water and sometimes difficult to separate from other compounds.