Different co-ordination modes of the new, water-soluble, triphosphine PhP[CH2CH2P(CH2OH)2]2 with PtII, PdII, RhI and ReV

Abstract

The water-soluble, triphosphine PhP[CH₂CH₂P(CH₂OH)₂]₂ was synthesized in good yield from PhP(CH₂CH₂PH₂)₂, by formylation of P–H bonds in the presence of formaldehyde and oxygen-free ethanol. When dissolved in water, it reacted readily with [Pt(cod)]Cl₂ (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene), [Pd(PhCN)₂]Cl₂, [{RhCl(cod)}₂] and [ReO₂I(PPh₃)₂], each in CH₂Cl₂, to provide complexes 1–4 of Pt^II, Pd^II, Rh^I and Re^V respectively. All of the new compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopies. Compound 1 was further characterized by ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy. The chemical constitutions of the compounds were further established by FAB mass spectrometry and elemental analysis (C and H). The results of this study demonstrate the versatility in co-ordination of the new, water-soluble, triphosphine.