The synthesis of the cationic trinuclear copper(I) complex [Cu 3(CCPh)(dppm) 3][BF 4] 2 is described. An X-ray structure determination shows a triangular array of copper atoms with three diphosphine ligands Ph 2PCH 2PPh 2 (dppm) bridging each edge of the triangle and a μ 3-η 1 phenyl acetylide group bound to the Cu 3 unit.