New water-soluble (hydroxymethyl)triphosphine [(HOCH2)2PCH2CH2]2PCH2OH, a derived PdII(triphosphine) complex, and triphosphine trioxide

An aqueous solution of (hydroxymethyl)triphosphine (HOCH₂)₂P(CH₂)₂]₂PCH₂OH (II) was synthesized in situ by treatment of the triphosphine H₂P(CH₂)₂PH(CH₂)₂PH₂ with formaldehyde. Addition of a CH₂Cl₂ solution of trans-PdCl₂(PhCN)₂ to an in situ aqueous solution of II resulted in the formation of a species thought to be PdCl{(HOCH₂)₂P(CH₂)₂]₂PCH₂OH}]⁺Cl⁻. Attempts to isolate the complex were unsuccessful because of conversion to material containing small amounts of phosphine oxide(s) formed via a redox reaction involving water. The triphosphine trioxide (HOCH₂)₂P(O)(CH₂)₂]₂P(O)CH₂OH was readily isolated from an in situ solution of II by treatment with aqueous H₂O₂.