It can be deprotonated to give diphenylphosphide derivatives:[2] The preparation of phosphine ligands, Wittig-Horner reagents, and phosphonium salts are commonly accomplished by alkylating diphenylphosphine.

The hydrogen atom connected to phosphorus undergoes Michael-like addition to activated alkenes, providing products with which to produce phosphine ligands such as 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) and BINAP[3] via their respective bistriflate derivatives.

One of the wide applications include chemoselective hydrogenation, where BINAP is conjugated to rhodium.

Diphenylphosphine and especially diphenylphosphide derivatives are nucleophiles, so they add to carbon – heteroatom double bonds.

[2] For example, in the presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid at 100 °C, diphenylphosphine adds to the carbon atom in benzaldehyde to give (phenyl-(phenylmethyl)phosphoryl)benzene.