Stereospecific, transition metal-mediated synthesis of unsymmetrical cis olefinic diphosphines
Abstract
Rigid, unsymmetrical cis olefinic diphosphines Ph2PCHC(R1)PR2R3 can be synthesised in good yields by the stereospecific addition of secondary phosphines R2R3PH across the triple bond of a phosphorus co-ordinated phosphinoacetylene in cis-MCl2(Ph2PCCR)2(M = Pd or Pt); a fundamental change in coupling through the metal atom is responsible for the sequence of J31P–31P values (Ni>>Pd>Pt) in d8 complexes of Ph2PCHC(R1)PR2R3.