Some complexes of rhodium and iridium with 2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-1-methoxy-4-methylbenzene

Summary The new tertiary phosphine t-13u₂(2-MeO-5-MeC₆H₃CH₂)P, L, was prepared by the base treatment of the phosphonium salt, LH⁺I^–, which was in turn prepared from t-Bu₂PH, 2-MeO-5-MeC₆H₃CH₂Cl and sodium iodide. This phosphine, L, reacts with various chloro-rhodium and -iridium species without O-demethylation. This contrasts with the behaviour of t-Bu₂PC₆H₄OMe-2 which demethylates readily on similar treatment to give chelate complexes. The completely different behaviour between this new 2-methoxybenzylphosphine, L, and the 2-anisylphosphine, t-Bu₂PC₆H₄OMe-2, is explained in terms of steric effects.No reprints are available.