Trifluoroacetylacetonate rhodium(III) methyl complexes, cis-[Rh(TFA)(PPh3)2(CH3)(L)][BPh4] and cis-[Rh(TFA)(PPh3)2(CH3)(I)] (L = CH3CN, NH3, pyridine), in comparison with their acetylacetonate analogs

The oxidative addition of CH₃I to planar rhodium(I) complex [Rh(TFA)(PPh₃)₂] in acetonitrile (TFA is trifluoroacetylacetonate) leads to the formation of cationic, cis-[Rh(TFA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] (1), or neutral, cis-[Rh(TFA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(I)] (4), rhodium(III) methyl complexes depending on the reaction conditions. 1 reacts readily with NH₃ and pyridine to form cationic complexes, cis-[Rh(TFA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(NH₃)][BPh₄] (2) and cis-[Rh(TFA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(Py)][BPh₄] (3), respectively. Acetylacetonate methyl complex of rhodium(III), cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(I)] (5), was obtained by the action of NaI on cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] in acetone at −15 °C. Complexes 1-5 were characterized by elemental analysis, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR. For complexes 2, 3, 4 conductivity data in acetone solutions are reported. The crystal structures of 2 and 3 were determined. NMR parameters of 1-5 and related complexes are discussed from the viewpoint of their isomerism.     

Study of hydroformylation of formaldehyde in the presence of rhodium catalysts byin situ IR spectroscopy and the kinetic technique

Carbonylrhodium complexes formed during hydroformylation of CH₂O from various rhodium precursors were investigated byin situ IR spectroscopy. It was found that under the conditions of the hydroformylation of CH₂O inN,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAA), RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃, RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂, RhCl(PPh₃)₃, RhCl(CO)(PBu₃)₂, and [RhCl(CO)₂]₂ form complex systems that necessarily contain anionic complexes, [Rh(CO)₂L_x(DMAA)_y]^– (L = PPh₃, PBu₃,x = 1 to 2,y = 1 to 0; [Rh(CO)₄]^–). The participation of ionic structures in the hydroformylation of CH₂O, most likely, in the step of the activation of CH₂O, was proven by kinetic techniques.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1066–1069, June, 1995.     

Cationic methyl complexes of rhodium(III): synthesis, structure, and some reactions

Cationic methyl complex of rhodium(III), trans-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] (1) is prepared by interaction of trans-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)I] with AgBPh₄ in acetonitrile. Cationic methyl complexes of rhodium(III), cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂ (CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] (2) and cis-[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] (3) (Acac, BA are acetylacetonate and benzoylacetonate, respectively), are obtained by CH₃I oxidative addition to rhodium(I) complexes [Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂] and [Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂] in acetonitrile in the presence of NaBPh₄. Complexes 2 and 3 react readily with NH₃ at room temperature to form cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(NH₃)][BPh₄] (4) and cis-[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(NH₃)][BPh₄] (5), respectively. Complexes 1-5 were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra. Complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 2 and 3 in solutions (CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃) are presented as mixtures of cis-(PPh₃)₂ isomers involved into a fluxional process. Complex 2 on heating in acetonitrile is converted into trans-isomer 1. In parallel with that isomerization, reductive elimination of methyl group with formation of [CH₃PPh₃][BPh₄] takes place. Replacement of CH₃CN in complexes 1 and 2 by anion I⁻ yields in both cases the neutral complex trans-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)I]. Strong trans influence of CH₃ ligand manifests itself in the elongation (in solid) and labilization (in solution) of rhodium-acetonitrile nitrogen bond.     

Cationic dihydridoiridium(III) complexes of nitriles

The reaction of [IrL(CO)(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ (PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine) with H₂ produces new cationic dihydridoiridium(III) complexes of nitriles (L), [Ir(H)₂L(CO)(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ [L = CH₃CN (1), CH₃CH₂CN (2), CH₃CH₂CH₂CN (3) and C₆H₅CN (4)], where nitriles are coordinated through the nitrogen atom. Proton NMR spectral data for complexes 1–4 suggest that the two hydrides in each complex are cis to each other and trans to CO and nitrogen (nitrile), and the two PPh₃ are trans to each other.     

Synthesis of platinum acetylide complexes and their application in curing silicone rubber by hydrosilylation

Eight platinum acetylide complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The catalytic properties of these complexes in curing silicone rubber by hydrosilylation have been tested. Among the complexes tested, trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂[―C≡CC(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₃] ₂ (2), trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂[―C≡CC(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₂CH₃)₃]₂ (3), trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂[―C≡CC(CH₃)₂OSiPh(CH₃)₂]₂ (4), trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂[―C≡C(C₆H₁₀)OSi(CH₃)₃]₂ (6), trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂[―C≡C(C₆H₁₀)OSi(CH₂CH₃)₃]₂ (7), and trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂[―C≡C(C₆H₁₀)OSiPh(CH₃)₂]₂ (8) exhibited sufficiently long pot‐lives (15 days) at room temperature and short silicone rubber curing times of 10–35 min at 100°C or 1–5 min at 120°C. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactivity of cationic methyl rhodium(III) complexes cis-[Rh(β-diket)(PPh3)2(CH3)(CH3CN)][BPh4] toward ligands of different character: pyridine, carbon monoxide, and triphenylphosphine

Cationic methyl complex of rhodium(III), cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(Py)][BPh₄] (1) as a single isomer with Py in the trans to PPh₃ position, is formed upon the reaction of cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] with pyridine in methylene chloride solution.Complex 1 was characterized by elemental analysis and by ³¹P{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra.Cationic pentacoordinate acetyl complexes, trans-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(COCH₃)][BPh₄] (2) and trans-[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂(COCH₃)][BPh₄] (3), are prepared by action of carbon monoxide on cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] and cis-[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄], respectively, in methylene chloride solutions.Complexes 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analysis and by IR, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR. According to NMR data, 2 and 3 in solution are non-fluxional trigonal bipyramids with β-diketonate and acetyl ligands in the equatorial plane and axial phosphines.In solutions, 2 and 3 gradually isomerize into octahedral methyl carbonyl complexes trans-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(CH₃)][BPh₄] (4) and trans-[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(CH₃)][BPh₄] (5), respectively.Complexes 4 and 5 were characterized by IR, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR, without isolation.Upon the action of PPh₃ on cis-[Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)][BPh₄] and cis-[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂(CH₃)(CH₃CN)] [BPh₄], reductive elimination of the methyl ligand as a phosphonium salt, [CH₃PPh₃][BPh₄], occurs to give square planar rhodium(I) complexes [Rh(Acac)(PPh₃)₂] and[Rh(BA)(PPh₃)₂], respectively. The reaction products were identified in the reaction mixtures by ³¹P{¹H} and ¹H NMR.     

Rhodium-catalyzed highly selective thioformylation of acetylenes with thiols and carbon monoxide

Highly regioselective thioformylation of terminal acetylenes with thiols and carbon monoxide has been developed by the use of rhodium(I) complexes as the catalyst: formyl and thio groups are introduced into the terminal and inner positions of acetylenes, respectively. The thioformylation is performed in the presence of a catalytic amount of rhodium(I) complexes, such as RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃, RhCl(PPh₃)₃, and RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂, under the pressure of CO (3 MPa) at 120°C in CH₃CN to provide β-thio-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in good yields. This thioformylation can be applied to a variety of terminal acetylenes and aromatic thiols. A mechanistic proposal includes the formation of the rhodium sulfide complex as the key species.     

Ligand behaviour of P-functionally substituted organotin halides: palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with Ph2PCH2CH2SnCl3

The P-functional organotin chloride Ph₂PCH₂CH₂SnCl₃ reacts with [(COD)MCl₂] and trans-[(Et₂S)₂MCl₂] (M=Pd, Pt) in molar ratio 1:1 to the zwitterionic complexes [(COD)M⁺(Cl)(PPh₂CH₂CH₂Sn⁻Cl₄)] (1: M=Pd; 2: M=Pt) and trans-[(Et₂S)₂M⁺(Cl)(PPh₂CH₂CH₂Sn⁻Cl₄)] (3: M=Pd; 4: M=Pt). The same reaction with [(COD)Pd(Cl)Me] yields under transfer of the methyl group from palladium to tin the complex [(COD)M⁺(Cl)(PPh₂CH₂CH₂Sn⁻MeCl₃)] (5) which changes in acetone into the dimeric adduct [Cl₂Pd(PPh₂CH₂CH₂SnMeCl₂·2Me₂CO)]₂ (6). In molar ratio 2:1 Ph₂PCH₂CH₂SnCl₃ reacts with [(COD)MCl₂] to the complexes [Cl₂Pd(PPh₂CH₂CH₂SnCl₃)₂] (7: M=Pd, mixture of cis/trans isomer; 8: M=Pt, cis isomer). In a subsequent reaction 8 is transformed in acetone into the 16-membered heterocyclic complex cis-[Cl₂Pt(PPh₂CH₂CH₂)₂SnCl₂]₂ (9). trans-[(Et₂S)₂PtCl₂] and Ph₂PCH₂CH₂SnCl₃ in molar ratio 1:2 yields the zwitterionic complex [(Et₂S)M⁺(Cl)(PPh₂CH₂CH₂SnCl₃)(PPh₂CH₂CH₂Sn⁻Cl₄)] (10). The results of crystal structure analyses of 1, 3, 6, 9 and of the adduct of the trans-isomer of 7 with acetone (7a) are reported. ³¹P- and ¹¹⁹Sn-NMR data of the complexes are discussed.     

Synthesis,formation constants and reactions of cationic rhodium(I) complexes of nitriles

Reactions of Rh(ClO₄)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ with nitriles produce new cationic rhodium(I) complexes, [RhL(CO)(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ [L = CH₃CN (1), CH₃CH₂CH₂CN (2) or C₆H₅CN (3)], whose spectral data suggest that the nitriles are coordinated through the nitrogen atom. Formation constants for the reaction Rh(ClO₄)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ + L ⇋ [RhL(CO)(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄, have been measured to be 1.01 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ (CH₃CN), 1.07 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ (CH₃CH₂CH₂CN) and 2.59 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ (C₆H₅CN) at 25°C in monochlorobenzene. The differences in the formation constants for the different nitriles seem to be predominantly due to differences in ΔH (not to differences in ΔS). The nitriles in 1–3 are readily replaced with nitrogen base ligands (unsaturated nitriles and pyridine) and PPh₃.     

The preparation and X-ray crystal and molecular structure of (α,1,2-η-6-methylbenzyl) bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I)

Reaction of [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] with [o-MeC₆H₄CH₂MgBr] affords high yields of the non-fluxional complex, [Rh(CH₂C₆H₄Me)(PPh₃)₂] which has been shown crystallographically to contain a 1-3-η-benzyl group bound through the phenyl carbon atom that is not substituted with the methyl group. Crystals of this compound are triclinic, space group P$\text{1}$, with a = 10.561(6). b = 17.705(3), c = 10.934(4) Å, α = 80.69(3), β = 116.86(4), γ = 102.30(4)° and Z = 2. The structure was solved via the heavy-atom method and refined to R = 0.032 using 5379 diffractometer data with I > 1.56(I). Attempts to prepare π-bonded xylylene complexes from this compound by reaction with base have been unsuccessful, but protonation followed by recrystallisation from acetone gives [Rh{(CH₃)₂CO}₂(PPh₃)₂]BF₄.     

Selective synthesis of 2-pyridones and pyrimidine-2,4-diones by neutral rhodium(I) complex-catalyzed cyclocotrimerization of alkynes and isocyanates

A neutral rhodium(I) complex, ‘RhCl(PPh₃)₂’ generated by the combination of [RhCl(C₂H₄)₂]₂ with a fourfold amount of PPh₃, effectively catalyzed the cyclocotrimerization of alkynes (1) and isocyanates (2) to give 2-pyridones (3) and/or pyrimidine-2,4-diones (4), selectively, by controlling the molar ratio of alkynes (1) and isocyanates (2).     

Reaction of formaldehyde with the Wilkinson complex in the presence of carboxylic acid amides

N,N-Dimethylacetamide and N, N-dimethyformamide react with RhCl(PPh₃)₃ with displacement of PPh₃ and the formation of a complex with the amide. Formamide and N-propylacetamide do not form similar complexes under similar conditions. In contrast to the reaction of RhCl(PPh₃)₃, which leads to the formation of RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ due to decarbonylation of CH₂O, stabilization of the ₂-CH₂O form of the CH₂O coordinated with rhodium is likely in the reaction of formaldehyde with a rhodium complex containing an N-bonded amide. Under the conditions of hydroformylation of CH₂O in a solution of the Wilkinson complex in an unsubstituted amide the dominating pathway of the transformation of formaldehyde is its reaction with the solvent or the ammonia formed via decarbonylation of the unsubstituted amide.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2670–2673, December, 1989.     

Reactions of 1,4-diaza-3-methylbutadien-2-ylpalladium(II) derivatives with chloro-bridged rhodium(I) complexes

The reactions of the organometallic 1,4-diazabutadienes, RN=C(R′)C(Me)=NR″ [R = R″ = p-C₆H₄OMe, R′ = trans-PdCl(PPh₃)₂ (DAB); R = p-C₆H₄OMe, R″ = Me, R′ = trans-PdCl(PPh₃)₂ (DAB^I; R = R″ = p-C₆H₄OMe, R′ = Pd(dmtc)-(PPh₃), dmtc = dimethyldithiocarbamate (DAB^II); R = R″ = p-C₆H₄OMe, R′ = PdCl(diphos), diphos = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DAB^III)] with [RhCl(COD)]₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, Pd/Rh ratio = $\text{1}\text{2}$) depend on the nature of the ancillary ligands at the Pd atom in group R′. In the reactions with DAB and DAB^I transfer of one PPh₃ ligand from Pd to Rh occurs yielding [RhCl(COD)(PPh₃)] and the new binuclear complexes [Rh(COD) {RN=C(R?)-C(Me)=NR″}], in which the diazabutadiene moiety acts as a chelating bidentate ligand. Exchange of ligands between the two different metallic centers also occurs in the reaction with DAB^II. In this case, the migration of the bidentate dmtc anion yields [Rh(COD)Pdmtc] and [Rh(COD) {RN=C(R?)C(Me)=NR″}]. In contrast, the reaction with DAB^III leads to the ionic product [Rh(COD)- (DAB^III)][RhCl₂(COD)], with no transfer of ligands. The cationic complex [Rh(COD)(DAB^III)]⁺ can be isolated as the perchlorate salt from the same reaction (Pd/Rh ratio = 1/1) in the presence of an excess of NaClO₄. In all the binuclear complexes the coordinated 1,5-cyclooctadiene can be readily displaced by carbon monoxide to give the corresponding dicarbonyl derivatives. The reaction of [RhCl(CO)₂]₂ with DAB and/or DAB^I yields trinuclear complexes of the type [RhCl(CO)₂]₂(DAB), in which the diazabutadiene group acts as a bridging bidentate ligand. Some reactions of the organic diazabutadiene RN=C(Me)C(Me)=NR (R = p-C₆H₄OMe) are also reported for comparison.     

Synthesis and reactivity of rhodium fluoro complexes

[RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₂] (1) reacts with Et₃N·3HF to give the fluoro compound [RhF(CO)(PPh₃)₂] (2). In a comparable reaction [RhF(PEt₃)₃] (5) has been obtained from [RhH(PEt₃)₃] (3) or [RhH(PEt₃)₄] (4) with substoichiometric amounts of Et₃N·3HF in THF. If the latter reaction is carried out in benzene, the complexes 5, cis-mer-[Rh(H)₂F(PEt₃)₃] (6) and cis-fac-[Rh(H)₂F(PEt₃)₃] (7) are obtained. Treatment of 5 with HCl in ether effects the generation of [RhCl(PEt₃)₃] (8) and the bifluoride compound [Rh(FHF)(PEt₃)₃] (9), which can be converted into 5 in the presence of Et₃N and Cs₂CO₃. Treatment of 5 with HSiR₂Ph (R=Ph, Me) leads to the formation of 3 and the rhodium(III) silyl complexes fac-[Rh(H)₂(SiR₂Ph)(PEt₃)₃] (10: R=Ph, 11: R=Me).     

Migration of hydrogen from metal to alkene promoted by dioxygen addition. Oxygen atom transfer from a cis-(alkyl)(η2-dioxygen) complex of rhodium to organic and inorganic substrates

The novel cis-(σ-alkyl)(η²-O₂) complexes of rhodium [(THF)(EtOH)Naμ-EtOH₂μ-(CO₂R)CH₂CH(CO₂R)Rh(η²-O₂)(triphos)₂Na(EtOH)(THF)][BPh₄]₂·2EtOH (R = Me,3; Et,4) have been synthesized by reaction of dioxygen with the hydrides (triphos)(RhH(η²-alkene) followed by NaBPh₄ addition (alkene = dimethyl fumarate,1; diethyl fumarate,2) (triphos = MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃). The structure of4 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Oxygen atom transfer reactions from the η²-O₂ complexes to various inorganic and organic substrates have been studied.     

Diphenylcarbene rhodium complexes: of the halfsandwich type with (η5-C5H4SiMe3)Rh as a molecular unit

The square-planar rhodium(I) complexes trans-[RhCl(=CPh₂)(L)₂] (L = SbiPr₃, PiPr₃, PPh₃) react with LiC₅H₄SiMe₃ to give the halfsandwich type compounds [(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)Rh(=CPh₂)(L)] 7–9 in good to excellent yields. While the phosphine complexes 8 and 9 are rather inert toward Lewis bases, the stibine derivative 7 reacts with CO, CNtBu and PMe₃ to afford the corresponding substitution products [(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)Rh(=CPh₂)(L′] 10–12. In contrast, the reaction of 7 with C₂H₄ leads to the displacement of the carbene ligand and to the formation of the ethene complex [(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)Rh(C₂H₄)(SbiPr₃)] 14 together with the C−C coupling product Ph₂C=CHCH₃13. Upon treatment of 9 (L = PPh₃) with an equimolar amount of HCl, the chloro(hydrido)rhodium(III) compound [{η⁵-C₅H₃)(CHPH₂)(SiMe₃)}RhHCl(PPh₃)] 15 is formed. With an excess of HCl, a mixture of two products is obtained, one of which, with the composition [η⁵-C₅H₄)CHPh₂)RhCl₂(PPH₃)] 17 has been independently prepared from η⁵-C₅H₅)Rh(=CPh₂)(PPh₃] 18 and 2 equiv of HCl.     

The preparation and catalytic hydroformylation activity of some halocarbonylrhodium(I) complexes containing phosphinoalkylorganosilicon ligands

The synthesis and properties of a series of trans-halocarbonylrhodium(I) complexes containing the phosphinoalkylorganosilicon ligands Me₃SiCH₂PPh₂, Me₃Si(CH₂)₃PPh₂, and PPh₂CH₂(Me)$\text{Si(OSiMe}{}_2\text{)}{}_3\text{O}$ have been investigated. The complexes could be prepared by an exchange reaction involving RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ and the organosilicon ligands or in better yields by the reaction of Rh₂Cl₂(CO)₄ with the ligands. Iodorhodium derivatives were obtained as the exclusive products in the latter reaction if a small amount of LiI was present. The catalytic activity of RhCl(CO)(PPh₂CH₂SiMe₃)₂ was similar to that of RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ in the hydroformylation of hex-1-ene at 100°C and 1000 psi pressure of H₂/CO. The catalytic properties of the iodo derivatives RhI(CO)L₂ [L = Me₃SiCH₂PPh₂, Me₃Si(CH₂)₃PPh₂, and PPh₂CH₂(Me)$\text{Si(OSiMe}{}_2\text{)}{}_3\text{O}$] varied considerably, with RhI(CO)(PPh₂CH₂SiMe₃)₂ producing an unexpectedly low linear/branched aldehyde product ratio.     

Complexes du titane et du zirconium contenant les ligands cyclopentadienyldiphenylphosphine et cyclopentadienylethyldiphenylphosphine: acces a des structures heterobimetalliques

Reactions of Ph₂P(CH₂)_n(C₅H₄)Li, (n = 0, 2), with MCl₄ or CpTiCl₃ (M = Ti, Zr; Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) form Cl₂M[(η⁵-C₅H₄)(CH₂)_nPPh₂]₂ or Cl₂CpTi[(η⁵-C₅H₄)-(CH₂)₂PPh₂] in good yields. Chemical reduction with Al, or electrochemical reduction of these complexes, under CO, are described. The titanium(IV) and zirconium(IV) derivatives react with metal carbonyls (Mo(CO)₆, Cr(CO)₆, Fe(CO)₅, Mo(CO)₄(C₈H₁₂)) under formation of new heterobimetallic complexes. Reduction with Al of Cl₂CpTi[(η⁵-C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂PPh₂]Mo(CO)₅ under CO results in a new heterobimetallic species containing low valent titanium. Both complexes Cl₂M[(η⁵-C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂PPh₂]₂ (M = Ti, Zr) react with [Rh(μ-Cl)(CO)(C₂H₄)]₂ to yield {RhCl(CO)(Cl₂M[(η⁵-C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂PPh₂]₂)}x, which is assumed to be a dimer, in which the titanium or the zirconium compounds act as bridging diphosphine ligands between the rhodium atoms.     

Simple protocol for the synthesis of the asymmetric PCP pincer ligand [C6H4-1-(CH2PPh2)-3-(CH(CH3)PPh2)] and its Pd(II) derivative [PdCl{C6H3-2-(CH2PPh2)-6-(CH(CH3)PPh2)}]

The asymmetric PCP pincer ligand [C₆H₄-1-(CH₂PPh₂)-3-(CH(CH₃)PPh₂)] (4) has been synthesized in a facile manner in three simple steps in high yield. Metallation of PCP pincer ligand (4) with [Pd(COD)Cl₂] affords complex [PdCl{C₆H₃-2-(CH₂PPh₂)-6-(CH(CH₃)PPh₂)}] (7) in good yield.