Tridentate chelate π-bonded complexes of rhodium(I), iridium(I), and iridium(III) and chelate σ-bonded complexes of nickel(II), palladium(II), and platinum(II) formed by intramolecular hydrogen abstraction reactions

2,2′-Bis(o-diphenylphosphino)bibenzyl, o-Ph₂PC₆H₄CH₂CH₂C₆H₄PPh₂-o (bdpbz), is dehydrogenated by various rhodium complexes to give the planar rhodium(I) complex

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, from which the ligand, 2,2′-bis(o-diphenylphosphino)-trans-stilbene (bdpps) can be displaced by treatment with sodium cyanide. The stilbene forms stable chelate olefin complexes with planar rhodium(I) and iridium(I) and with octahedral iridium(III). On reaction with halide complexes of nickel(II), palladium(II) or platinum(II), the stilbene ligands

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(R = Ph or o-CH₃C₆H₄) lose a vinyl proton in the form of hydrogen chloride to give chelate, planar σ-vinyls of general formula =CHC₆H₄PR₂-o) (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br, I) of high thermal stability; analogous methyl derivatives =CHC₆H₄PR₂-o) are obtained from Pt(CH₃)₂(COD) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and the stilbene ligands. The bibenzyl also forms chelate σ-benzyls HCH₂C₆H₄PPh₂-o) (M = Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br, I). The ¹H NMR spectra of the o-tolyl methyl groups in the compounds =CHC₆H₄PR₂-o) (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; R = o-CH₃C₆H₄) vary with temperature, probably as a consequence of interconversion of enantiomers arising from restricted rotation about the M---P and M---C bonds. Possible mechanisms for the dehydrogenation reactions are briefly discussed.