This short review concentrates on important aspects of fluoroarylphosphines, in particular their synthesis, ligand properties and chemical and catalytic properties of their complexes. Although the electronic, steric and chemical properties of fluoroarylphosphines have been known for 30 years, their use as ligands for homogeneous catalysis and in the synthesis of elaborate multidentate ligands has occurred more recently. The number of recent reports suggests that their importance is growing.